diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
index 01d6f4d46..50ca38a22 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ from r2.lib.validator import (
     VDateRange,
     VExistingUname,
     VFloat,
+    VImageType,
     VInt,
     VLength,
     VLink,
@@ -726,14 +727,15 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
 
     @validate(VSponsor("link_id"),
               link=VByName('link_id'),
-              file=VLength('file', 500 * 1024))
-    def POST_link_thumb(self, link=None, file=None):
+              file=VLength('file', 500 * 1024),
+              img_type=VImageType('img_type'))
+    def POST_link_thumb(self, link=None, file=None, img_type='jpg'):
         if link and (not promote.is_promoted(link) or
                      c.user_is_sponsor or c.user.trusted_sponsor):
             errors = dict(BAD_CSS_NAME="", IMAGE_ERROR="")
             try:
                 # thumnails for promoted links can change and therefore expire
-                force_thumbnail(link, file, file_type=".jpg")
+                force_thumbnail(link, file, file_type=".%s" % img_type)
             except cssfilter.BadImage:
                 # if the image doesn't clean up nicely, abort
                 errors["IMAGE_ERROR"] = _("bad image")
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
index de0eb7093..24dc67907 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
@@ -307,7 +307,8 @@ ${self.javascript_setup()}
     <div class="delete-field">
       <%utils:image_upload post_target="/api/link_thumb" 
                            current_image="${thumb}"
-                           label="${_('upload header image:')}">
+                           label="${_('upload header image:')}"
+                           ask_type="True">
        <input type="hidden" name="link_id" value="${thing.link._fullname}" />
        ## overwrite the completed image function
        <script type="text/javascript">