diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/header.c b/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
index 4cc9eac4..37340d33 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
@@ -481,6 +481,7 @@ vips_image_guess_interpretation( const VipsImage *image )
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LCH: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_sRGB: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_scRGB: 
+	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_HSV:
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_YXY: 
 		if( image->Bands < 3 )
 			sane = FALSE;