diff --git a/pkg/scraper/mapped.go b/pkg/scraper/mapped.go
index d92415c61..5e8fba744 100644
--- a/pkg/scraper/mapped.go
+++ b/pkg/scraper/mapped.go
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ func (s mappedScraper) scrapeScene(ctx context.Context, q mappedQuery) (*models.
 	logger.Debug(`Processing scene:`)
 	results := sceneMap.process(ctx, q, s.Common, urlsIsMulti)
 
-	var ret *models.ScrapedScene
+	// Initialize ret to a non-nil empty scene so that processSceneRelationships
+	// can safely populate relationship fields even when no direct results were found.
+	// This preserves the intent of #3953: returning a scene with only relationships.
+	ret := &models.ScrapedScene{}
 	if len(results) > 0 {
 		ret = results[0].scrapedScene()
 	}