diff --git a/pkg/thumb/ffmpeg.go b/pkg/thumb/ffmpeg.go
index e0742509..0112b8e6 100644
--- a/pkg/thumb/ffmpeg.go
+++ b/pkg/thumb/ffmpeg.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (f *FfmpegGenerator) Generate(ctx context.Context, es entitysource.EntitySo
 
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		f.l.Warning("Failed to invoke ffmpeg: %s", stdErr.String())
-		return &Result{Path: tempOutputPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke ffmpeg: %w, raw output: %s", err, stdErr.String())
+		return &Result{Path: tempOutputPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke ffmpeg: %w, raw output: %s: %w", err, stdErr.String(), ErrPassThrough)
 	}
 
 	return &Result{Path: tempOutputPath}, nil
diff --git a/pkg/thumb/libreoffice.go b/pkg/thumb/libreoffice.go
index 89fbdef4..42d6abd7 100644
--- a/pkg/thumb/libreoffice.go
+++ b/pkg/thumb/libreoffice.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (l *LibreOfficeGenerator) Generate(ctx context.Context, es entitysource.Ent
 
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		l.l.Warning("Failed to invoke LibreOffice: %s", stdErr.String())
-		return &Result{Path: tempOutputPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke LibreOffice: %w, raw output: %s", err, stdErr.String())
+		return &Result{Path: tempOutputPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke LibreOffice: %w, raw output: %s: %w", err, stdErr.String(), ErrPassThrough)
 	}
 
 	return &Result{
diff --git a/pkg/thumb/vips.go b/pkg/thumb/vips.go
index bd344fd2..99dadca5 100644
--- a/pkg/thumb/vips.go
+++ b/pkg/thumb/vips.go
@@ -105,7 +105,10 @@ func (v *VipsGenerator) Generate(ctx context.Context, es entitysource.EntitySour
 
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		v.l.Warning("Failed to invoke vips: %s", vipsErr.String())
-		return &Result{Path: tempPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke vips: %w, raw output: %s", err, vipsErr.String())
+		// A non-zero exit usually means vips cannot decode the format (e.g.
+		// psd, html). Pass through so later generators can try instead of
+		// failing the whole pipeline.
+		return &Result{Path: tempPath}, fmt.Errorf("failed to invoke vips: %w, raw output: %s: %w", err, vipsErr.String(), ErrPassThrough)
 	}
 
 	return &Result{Path: tempPath}, nil