Problems with image_field on CCK

I add the image_field to my Content type "story“in intention to have a small photo on each teaser. There are no problem when a story has picture uploaded, but if not I would expect nothing in that place. But I get an image icon with red "x" so it seems that CCK is trying to show the image, that not exists. In version 5.x-1.6 it worked correctly.