diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 6e5365d..c4998f0 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use axum_macros::debug_handler;
 use base64::{engine::general_purpose, Engine as _};
 use core::panic;
 use ffmpeg_cli::Parameter;
+use ffprobe::{Format, Stream};
 use futures_util::{future::ready, StreamExt};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
@@ -209,6 +210,41 @@ async fn fetch_frame_as_image(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn fetch_frame_count_full_decode(path: &std::path::Path) -> anyhow::Result<u64> {
+    let config = ffprobe::ConfigBuilder::new().count_frames(true).build();
+    let new_info = ffprobe::ffprobe_config(config, path)?;
+    let res = new_info
+        .streams
+        .get(0)
+        .unwrap()
+        .nb_read_frames
+        .clone()
+        .unwrap()
+        .parse::<u64>()?;
+    Ok(res)
+}
+
+fn calculate_frame_count(
+    path: &std::path::Path,
+    stream: &Stream,
+    format: &Format,
+    frame_rate: f64,
+) -> anyhow::Result<u64> {
+    Ok(if let Some(parseable_data) = stream.nb_frames.clone() {
+        // if we can get it from the stream metadata, use it
+        parseable_data.parse::<u64>()?
+    } else if let Some(parseable_data) = format.try_get_duration() {
+        // this is a std::time::duration
+        // multiply that by frame rate and we get total frame count (approximate)
+        log::warn!("fetching duration from format metadata...");
+        let seconds = parseable_data?.as_secs_f64();
+        (seconds * frame_rate) as u64
+    } else {
+        log::warn!("file didn't provide frame metadata, calculating it ourselves...");
+        fetch_frame_count_full_decode(path)?
+    })
+}
+
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn upload_file(
     options: Query<Options>,
@@ -250,13 +286,17 @@ async fn upload_file(
             let info = ffprobe::ffprobe(temp_file.path())?;
             let stream = info.streams.get(0).unwrap();
 
-            let total_frame_count = stream.nb_frames.clone().unwrap().parse::<u32>()?;
-            let frame_rate_str = stream.r_frame_rate.clone();
+            log::debug!("stream = {:?}", stream);
+            log::debug!("format = {:?}", info.format);
 
+            let frame_rate_str = stream.r_frame_rate.clone();
             let parts = frame_rate_str.split("/").into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
             let frame_rate: f64 =
                 parts.get(0).unwrap().parse::<f64>()? / parts.get(1).unwrap().parse::<f64>()?;
 
+            let total_frame_count =
+                calculate_frame_count(temp_file.path(), &stream, &info.format, frame_rate)?;
+
             let total_length_in_seconds = total_frame_count as f64 / frame_rate;
             let wanted_frame_skip_seconds = match total_length_in_seconds as usize {
                 0..=10 => 2,