diff --git a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
index ab06dce10..65c089525 100644
--- a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
+++ b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
@@ -112,15 +112,18 @@ func (r *mutationResolver) PerformerUpdate(ctx context.Context, input models.Per
 		UpdatedAt: models.SQLiteTimestamp{Timestamp: time.Now()},
 	}
 	if input.Image != nil {
-		checksum, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(*input.Image)
+		_, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(*input.Image)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		updatedPerformer.Image = imageData
-		updatedPerformer.Checksum = checksum
 	}
 	if input.Name != nil {
+		// generate checksum from performer name rather than image
+		checksum := utils.MD5FromString(*input.Name)
+
 		updatedPerformer.Name = sql.NullString{String: *input.Name, Valid: true}
+		updatedPerformer.Checksum = checksum
 	}
 	if input.URL != nil {
 		updatedPerformer.URL = sql.NullString{String: *input.URL, Valid: true}
diff --git a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_studio.go b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_studio.go
index 26a26044d..1d07a809c 100644
--- a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_studio.go
+++ b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_studio.go
@@ -66,15 +66,17 @@ func (r *mutationResolver) StudioUpdate(ctx context.Context, input models.Studio
 		UpdatedAt: models.SQLiteTimestamp{Timestamp: time.Now()},
 	}
 	if input.Image != nil {
-		checksum, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(*input.Image)
+		_, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(*input.Image)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		updatedStudio.Image = imageData
-		updatedStudio.Checksum = checksum
 	}
 	if input.Name != nil {
+		// generate checksum from studio name rather than image
+		checksum := utils.MD5FromString(*input.Name)
 		updatedStudio.Name = sql.NullString{String: *input.Name, Valid: true}
+		updatedStudio.Checksum = checksum
 	}
 	if input.URL != nil {
 		updatedStudio.URL = sql.NullString{String: *input.URL, Valid: true}
diff --git a/pkg/manager/task_import.go b/pkg/manager/task_import.go
index 398968ce2..29bc68ff4 100644
--- a/pkg/manager/task_import.go
+++ b/pkg/manager/task_import.go
@@ -64,8 +64,11 @@ func (t *ImportTask) ImportPerformers(ctx context.Context) {
 
 		logger.Progressf("[performers] %d of %d", index, len(t.Mappings.Performers))
 
+		// generate checksum from performer name rather than image
+		checksum := utils.MD5FromString(performerJSON.Name)
+
 		// Process the base 64 encoded image string
-		checksum, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(performerJSON.Image)
+		_, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(performerJSON.Image)
 		if err != nil {
 			_ = tx.Rollback()
 			logger.Errorf("[performers] <%s> invalid image: %s", mappingJSON.Checksum, err.Error())
@@ -159,8 +162,11 @@ func (t *ImportTask) ImportStudios(ctx context.Context) {
 
 		logger.Progressf("[studios] %d of %d", index, len(t.Mappings.Studios))
 
+		// generate checksum from studio name rather than image
+		checksum := utils.MD5FromString(studioJSON.Name)
+
 		// Process the base 64 encoded image string
-		checksum, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(studioJSON.Image)
+		_, imageData, err := utils.ProcessBase64Image(studioJSON.Image)
 		if err != nil {
 			_ = tx.Rollback()
 			logger.Errorf("[studios] <%s> invalid image: %s", mappingJSON.Checksum, err.Error())