diff --git a/beetsplug/discogs.py b/beetsplug/discogs.py
index 5bdd27705..3385e4221 100644
--- a/beetsplug/discogs.py
+++ b/beetsplug/discogs.py
@@ -425,6 +425,8 @@ class DiscogsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             catalogno = result.data["labels"][0].get("catno")
             labelid = result.data["labels"][0].get("id")
 
+        cover_art_url = self.select_cover_art(result)
+
         # Additional cleanups (various artists name, catalog number, media).
         if va:
             artist = config["va_name"].as_str()
@@ -474,8 +476,19 @@ class DiscogsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             discogs_albumid=discogs_albumid,
             discogs_labelid=labelid,
             discogs_artistid=artist_id,
+            cover_art_url=cover_art_url,
         )
 
+    def select_cover_art(self, result):
+        """Returns the best candidate image, if any, from a Discogs `Release` object."""
+        if result.data.get("images") and len(result.data.get("images")) > 0:
+            # The first image in this list appears to be the one displayed first
+            # on the release page - even if it is not flagged as `type: "primary"` - and
+            # so it is the best candidate for the cover art.
+            return result.data.get("images")[0].get("uri")
+
+        return None
+
     def format(self, classification):
         if classification:
             return (
diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index f1b012a5f..93d3f2c57 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -1098,7 +1098,7 @@ class CoverArtUrl(RemoteArtSource):
         image_url = None
         try:
             # look for cover_art_url on album or first track
-            if album.cover_art_url:
+            if album.get("cover_art_url"):
                 image_url = album.cover_art_url
             else:
                 image_url = album.items().get().cover_art_url
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 13e75a904..a6ae89a7a 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ Major new features:
 
 New features:
 
+* :doc:`plugins/discogs`: supply a value for the `cover_art_url` attribute, for use by `fetchart`.
+  :bug:`429`
 * :ref:`update-cmd`: added ```-e``` flag for excluding fields from being updated.
 * :doc:`/plugins/deezer`: Import rank and other attributes from Deezer during import and add a function to update the rank of existing items.
   :bug:`4841`