diff --git a/pkg/models/model_scraped_item.go b/pkg/models/model_scraped_item.go
index b3a7a2418..5a9f2acb0 100644
--- a/pkg/models/model_scraped_item.go
+++ b/pkg/models/model_scraped_item.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ type ScrapedPerformer struct {
 	Aliases        *string       `json:"aliases"`
 	Tags           []*ScrapedTag `json:"tags"`
 	// This should be a base64 encoded data URL
-	Image        *string  `json:"image"`
+	Image        *string  `json:"image"` // deprecated: use Images
 	Images       []string `json:"images"`
 	Details      *string  `json:"details"`
 	DeathDate    *string  `json:"death_date"`
diff --git a/pkg/scraper/image.go b/pkg/scraper/image.go
index 5757bc9b3..78652f11d 100644
--- a/pkg/scraper/image.go
+++ b/pkg/scraper/image.go
@@ -12,11 +12,19 @@ import (
 )
 
 func setPerformerImage(ctx context.Context, client *http.Client, p *models.ScrapedPerformer, globalConfig GlobalConfig) error {
-	if p.Image == nil || !strings.HasPrefix(*p.Image, "http") {
+	// backwards compatibility: we fetch the image if it's a URL and set it to the first image
+	// Image is deprecated, so only do this if Images is unset
+	if p.Image == nil || len(p.Images) > 0 {
 		// nothing to do
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// don't try to get the image if it doesn't appear to be a URL
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(*p.Image, "http") {
+		p.Images = []string{*p.Image}
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	img, err := getImage(ctx, *p.Image, client, globalConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err