diff --git a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/pinned-requirements.txt b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/pinned-requirements.txt
index 91752afea326..325ecb44595f 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/pinned-requirements.txt
+++ b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/pinned-requirements.txt
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ propcache==0.2.0 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 prov==1.5.1 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 psutil==6.1.0 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 pulsar-galaxy-lib==0.15.6 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
+puremagic==1.28 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 pycparser==2.22 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 pycryptodome==3.21.0 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
 pydantic-core==2.23.4 ; python_version >= "3.8" and python_version < "3.13"
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/util/image_util.py b/lib/galaxy/util/image_util.py
index 3b11a50d2fda..7d867525dfb8 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/util/image_util.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/util/image_util.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 """Provides utilities for working with image files."""
 
-import imghdr
 import logging
 from typing import (
     List,
     Optional,
 )
 
+import puremagic
+
 try:
     from PIL import Image
 except ImportError:
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ def image_type(filename: str) -> Optional[str]:
             # exception we expect to happen frequently, so we're not logging
             pass
     if not fmt:
-        fmt = imghdr.what(filename)
+        fmt = puremagic.what(filename)
     if fmt:
         return fmt.upper()
     else: