diff --git a/beetsplug/_typing.py b/beetsplug/_typing.py
index 6c69aeed41..39e0379aa5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/_typing.py
+++ b/beetsplug/_typing.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class Item(TypedDict):
         albumName: str
         duration: float | None
         instrumental: bool
-        plainLyrics: str
+        plainLyrics: str | None
         syncedLyrics: str | None
 
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/lyrics.py b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
index c9e5c529d9..61cf58011f 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lyrics.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class LRCLyrics:
     id: int
     duration: float
     instrumental: bool
-    plain: str
+    plain: str | None
     synced: str | None
 
     def __le__(self, other: LRCLyrics) -> bool:
@@ -308,13 +308,16 @@ def duration_dist(self) -> float:
     @cached_property
     def is_valid(self) -> bool:
         """Return whether the lyrics item is valid.
+
         Lyrics duration must be within the tolerance defined by
-        :attr:`DURATION_DIFF_TOLERANCE`.
+        :attr:`DURATION_DIFF_TOLERANCE`, and the item must carry some usable
+        text: LRCLib serves records that have neither plain nor synced lyrics
+        without flagging them as instrumental, and those match nothing.
         """
         return (
             self.duration_dist
             <= self.target_duration * self.DURATION_DIFF_TOLERANCE
-        )
+        ) and bool(self.instrumental or self.plain or self.synced)
 
     @cached_property
     def dist(self) -> tuple[bool, float]:
@@ -329,15 +332,29 @@ def dist(self) -> tuple[bool, float]:
         """
         return not self.synced, self.duration_dist
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def remove_timestamps(synced: str) -> str:
+        """Return synced lyrics with their LRC timestamps removed."""
+        return "\n".join(
+            m[2]
+            for line in synced.splitlines()
+            if (m := Lyrics.LINE_PARTS_PAT.match(line))
+        )
+
     def get_text(self, want_synced: bool) -> str:
         """Return the preferred text form for this candidate."""
         if self.instrumental:
             return INSTRUMENTAL_LYRICS
 
-        if want_synced and self.synced:
-            return "\n".join(map(str.strip, self.synced.splitlines()))
+        if self.synced:
+            if want_synced:
+                return "\n".join(map(str.strip, self.synced.splitlines()))
+
+            # A record may carry synced lyrics without the plain variant.
+            if not self.plain:
+                return self.remove_timestamps(self.synced)
 
-        return self.plain
+        return self.plain or ""
 
 
 class LRCLib(Backend):
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 4d98aa214f..cb4b0d8d2d 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ Bug fixes
 - :doc:`plugins/lyrics`: ``beet lyrics`` no longer crashes with an
   ``AttributeError`` on tracks that have no stored lyrics when ``force`` is
   enabled; a missing lyrics body is now treated as empty text. :bug:`6860`
+- :doc:`plugins/lyrics`: LRCLib serves records that carry neither plain nor
+  synced lyrics without flagging them as instrumental. Such a record was
+  accepted as a match and produced lyrics whose body was ``None``, crashing the
+  importer with ``AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute
+  'splitlines'``. These records are now rejected as matches, so the search falls
+  through to the remaining candidates. Relatedly, a record that carries only
+  synced lyrics now yields the plain variant with timestamps removed, rather
+  than nothing, when ``synced`` is disabled. :bug:`6888`
 - Flexible attributes whose names contain uppercase characters (for example
   ``beet import --set Tag_With_Uppercase=true``) can now be found by queries.
   Field names are lowercased when a query is parsed, so such attributes could
diff --git a/test/plugins/lyrics_pages.py b/test/plugins/lyrics_pages.py
index 09760ba568..df230709f2 100644
--- a/test/plugins/lyrics_pages.py
+++ b/test/plugins/lyrics_pages.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def backend(self) -> str:
         url_title="Lady Madonna - The Beatles - LETRAS.MUS.BR",
     ),
     LyricsPage.make(
-        "https://lrclib.net/api/get/19648857",
+        "https://lrclib.net/api/get/23863037",
         """
         [00:08.35] Lady Madonna, children at your feet
         [00:12.85] Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_lyrics.py b/test/plugins/test_lyrics.py
index e6384c4a34..fb0939acab 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_lyrics.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_lyrics.py
@@ -618,6 +618,20 @@ def test_synced_config_option(
         assert lyrics.text == expected_lyrics
         assert lyrics.backend == backend_name
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "response_data", [[lyrics_match(plainLyrics=None)]]
+    )
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("plugin_config", [{"synced": False}])
+    def test_plain_lyrics_derived_from_synced(self, fetch_lyrics):
+        """Derive plain lyrics from the synced text when the record omits them.
+
+        Returning nothing here would hide lyrics the match actually carries.
+        """
+        lyrics = fetch_lyrics()
+
+        assert lyrics
+        assert lyrics.text == "synced"
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "response_data, expected_lyrics",
         [
@@ -629,6 +643,11 @@ def test_synced_config_option(
             pytest.param(
                 [lyrics_match(instrumental=True)], "", id="instrumental track"
             ),
+            pytest.param(
+                [lyrics_match(plainLyrics=None, syncedLyrics=None)],
+                None,
+                id="none: no lyrics and not flagged instrumental",
+            ),
             pytest.param(
                 [lyrics_match(syncedLyrics=None)],
                 "plain",