diff --git a/src/ipod_nano7_db.py b/src/ipod_nano7_db.py
index cdb1c01..d810873 100644
--- a/src/ipod_nano7_db.py
+++ b/src/ipod_nano7_db.py
@@ -485,7 +485,8 @@ class Nano7Database:
             dd = delta_stats.get(location, {})
             pc = bs.get("play_count", 0) + dd.get("play_count", 0)
             sc = bs.get("skip_count", 0) + dd.get("skip_count", 0)
-            rating = dd.get("rating", 0) or bs.get("rating", 0)
+            dd_rt = dd.get("rating", 0)
+            rating = dd_rt if dd_rt >= 0 else bs.get("rating", 0)
             tracks.append({
                 "pid": s["pid"],
                 "title": s.get("title") or os.path.splitext(s["file_name"])[0],
@@ -660,7 +661,8 @@ class Nano7Database:
                 bs.get("skip_count", 0), local_pc.get("skip_count", 0),
             ) + dd.get("skip_count", 0)
 
-            s["rating"] = dd.get("rating", 0) or bs.get("rating", 0) or local_pc.get("rating", 0)
+            dd_rating = dd.get("rating", 0)
+            s["rating"] = dd_rating if dd_rating >= 0 else bs.get("rating", 0) or local_pc.get("rating", 0)
 
             s["last_played"] = max(
                 bs.get("last_played", 0), local_pc.get("last_played", 0),
diff --git a/src/worker.py b/src/worker.py
index 4184cb7..d89ed99 100644
--- a/src/worker.py
+++ b/src/worker.py
@@ -240,7 +240,8 @@ class WorkerThread(QThread):
                 entry.get("skip_count", 0), bs.get("skip_count", 0),
             ) + dd.get("skip_count", 0)
 
-            entry["rating"] = dd.get("rating", 0) or bs.get("rating", 0) or entry.get("rating", 0)
+            dd_rating = dd.get("rating", 0)
+            entry["rating"] = dd_rating if dd_rating >= 0 else bs.get("rating", 0) or entry.get("rating", 0)
 
             entry["last_played"] = max(
                 entry.get("last_played", 0), bs.get("last_played", 0),