diff --git a/plugins/preview-tabbed b/plugins/preview-tabbed
index 7fc859ca..2a66697e 100755
--- a/plugins/preview-tabbed
+++ b/plugins/preview-tabbed
@@ -181,10 +181,14 @@ previewer_loop () {
                 ;;
             inode/directory)
                 if [[ -n $PICTURES_DIR && "$FILE" == *"$PICTURES_DIR"* ]] ; then
-                    if type sxiv >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-                        ( sxiv -te "$XID" "$FILE" 2>/dev/null || $TERMINAL "$XID" -e nnn "$FILE" ) &
-                    elif type nsxiv >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-                        ( nsxiv -te "$XID" "$FILE" 2>/dev/null || $TERMINAL "$XID" -e nnn "$FILE" )  &
+                    if find "$FILE" -maxdepth 1 | file -bLf- --mime-type | grep -q image ; then
+                        if type sxiv >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+                            sxiv -te "$XID" "$FILE" &
+                        elif type nsxiv >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+                            nsxiv -te "$XID" "$FILE" &
+                        else
+                            $TERMINAL "$XID" -e nnn "$FILE" &
+                        fi
                     else
                         $TERMINAL "$XID" -e nnn "$FILE" &
                     fi