diff --git a/plugins/snapshot/src/image-reader.ts b/plugins/snapshot/src/image-reader.ts
index 42999f9089..12700b4d60 100644
--- a/plugins/snapshot/src/image-reader.ts
+++ b/plugins/snapshot/src/image-reader.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 import sdk, { BufferConverter, Image, ImageOptions, MediaObject, MediaObjectOptions, ScryptedDeviceBase, ScryptedMimeTypes } from "@scrypted/sdk";
 import type sharp from 'sharp';
 
-export let sharpInstance: typeof sharp;
-try {
-    sharpInstance = require('sharp');
-    console.log('sharp loaded');
-}
-catch (e) {
-    console.warn('sharp failed to load, scrypted server may be out of date', e);
+let hasLoadedSharp = false;
+let sharpInstance: typeof sharp;
+export function loadSharp() {
+    if (!hasLoadedSharp) {
+        hasLoadedSharp = true;
+        try {
+            sharpInstance = require('sharp');
+            console.log('sharp loaded');
+        }
+        catch (e) {
+            console.warn('sharp failed to load, scrypted server may be out of date', e);
+        }
+    }
+    return !!sharpInstance;
 }
 
 export const ImageReaderNativeId = 'imagereader';
@@ -98,7 +105,7 @@ export class VipsImage implements Image {
     }
 }
 
-export async function loadVipsImage(data: Buffer|string, sourceId: string) {
+export async function loadVipsImage(data: Buffer | string, sourceId: string) {
     const image = sharpInstance(data, {
         failOnError: false,
     });
diff --git a/plugins/snapshot/src/main.ts b/plugins/snapshot/src/main.ts
index a7f0f59950..2bde358158 100644
--- a/plugins/snapshot/src/main.ts
+++ b/plugins/snapshot/src/main.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import https from 'https';
 import path from 'path';
 import MimeType from 'whatwg-mimetype';
 import { ffmpegFilterImage, ffmpegFilterImageBuffer } from './ffmpeg-image-filter';
-import { ImageReader, ImageReaderNativeId, loadVipsImage, sharpInstance } from './image-reader';
+import { ImageReader, ImageReaderNativeId, loadVipsImage, loadSharp } from './image-reader';
 import { ImageWriter, ImageWriterNativeId } from './image-writer';
 
 const { mediaManager, systemManager } = sdk;
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class SnapshotMixin extends SettingsMixinDeviceBase<Camera> implements Camera {
                 }, async () => {
                     this.debugConsole?.log("Resizing picture from camera", options?.picture);
 
-                    if (sharpInstance) {
+                    if (loadSharp()) {
                         const vips = await loadVipsImage(picture, this.id);
                         try {
                             const ret = await vips.toBuffer({
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class SnapshotMixin extends SettingsMixinDeviceBase<Camera> implements Camera {
         const xmax = Math.max(...this.storageSettings.values.snapshotCropScale.map(([x, y]) => x)) / 100;
         const ymax = Math.max(...this.storageSettings.values.snapshotCropScale.map(([x, y]) => y)) / 100;
 
-        if (sharpInstance) {
+        if (loadSharp()) {
             const vips = await loadVipsImage(picture, this.id);
             try {
                 const ret = await vips.toBuffer({
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ class SnapshotPlugin extends AutoenableMixinProvider implements MixinProvider, B
             ]
         };
 
-        if (sharpInstance) {
+        if (loadSharp()) {
             manifest.devices.push(
                 {
                     name: 'Image Reader',
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ class SnapshotPlugin extends AutoenableMixinProvider implements MixinProvider, B
         });
 
         const filename = ffmpegInput.url?.startsWith('file:') && new URL(ffmpegInput.url).pathname;
-        if (filename && sharpInstance) {
+        if (filename && loadSharp()) {
             const vips = await loadVipsImage(filename, options?.sourceId);
 
             const resize = width && {