diff --git a/graphql/documents/mutations/performer.graphql b/graphql/documents/mutations/performer.graphql
index ae0b5e17f..f8af53180 100644
--- a/graphql/documents/mutations/performer.graphql
+++ b/graphql/documents/mutations/performer.graphql
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 mutation PerformerCreate(
-  $name: String,
+  $name: String!,
   $url: String,
   $gender: GenderEnum,
   $birthdate: String,
diff --git a/graphql/schema/types/performer.graphql b/graphql/schema/types/performer.graphql
index d10b95b69..c872a9d27 100644
--- a/graphql/schema/types/performer.graphql
+++ b/graphql/schema/types/performer.graphql
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type Performer {
 }
 
 input PerformerCreateInput {
-  name: String
+  name: String!
   url: String
   gender: GenderEnum
   birthdate: String
diff --git a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
index a00d568a6..efb47025a 100644
--- a/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
+++ b/pkg/api/resolver_mutation_performer.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 func (r *mutationResolver) PerformerCreate(ctx context.Context, input models.PerformerCreateInput) (*models.Performer, error) {
 	// generate checksum from performer name rather than image
-	checksum := utils.MD5FromString(*input.Name)
+	checksum := utils.MD5FromString(input.Name)
 
 	var imageData []byte
 	var err error
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ func (r *mutationResolver) PerformerCreate(ctx context.Context, input models.Per
 		CreatedAt: models.SQLiteTimestamp{Timestamp: currentTime},
 		UpdatedAt: models.SQLiteTimestamp{Timestamp: currentTime},
 	}
-	if input.Name != nil {
-		newPerformer.Name = sql.NullString{String: *input.Name, Valid: true}
-	}
+	newPerformer.Name = sql.NullString{String: input.Name, Valid: true}
 	if input.URL != nil {
 		newPerformer.URL = sql.NullString{String: *input.URL, Valid: true}
 	}
diff --git a/ui/v2.5/src/components/Galleries/GalleryDetails/GalleryScrapeDialog.tsx b/ui/v2.5/src/components/Galleries/GalleryDetails/GalleryScrapeDialog.tsx
index 5ad9a6fda..9a71b33ad 100644
--- a/ui/v2.5/src/components/Galleries/GalleryDetails/GalleryScrapeDialog.tsx
+++ b/ui/v2.5/src/components/Galleries/GalleryDetails/GalleryScrapeDialog.tsx
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ export const GalleryScrapeDialog: React.FC<IGalleryScrapeDialogProps> = (
   }
 
   async function createNewPerformer(toCreate: GQL.ScrapedScenePerformer) {
-    let performerInput: GQL.PerformerCreateInput = {};
+    let performerInput: GQL.PerformerCreateInput = { name: "" };
     try {
       performerInput = Object.assign(performerInput, toCreate);
       const result = await createPerformer({
diff --git a/ui/v2.5/src/components/Scenes/SceneDetails/SceneScrapeDialog.tsx b/ui/v2.5/src/components/Scenes/SceneDetails/SceneScrapeDialog.tsx
index 1c42f261c..b2ed6f860 100644
--- a/ui/v2.5/src/components/Scenes/SceneDetails/SceneScrapeDialog.tsx
+++ b/ui/v2.5/src/components/Scenes/SceneDetails/SceneScrapeDialog.tsx
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ export const SceneScrapeDialog: React.FC<ISceneScrapeDialogProps> = (
   }
 
   async function createNewPerformer(toCreate: GQL.ScrapedScenePerformer) {
-    let performerInput: GQL.PerformerCreateInput = {};
+    let performerInput: GQL.PerformerCreateInput = { name: "" };
     try {
       performerInput = Object.assign(performerInput, toCreate);
       const result = await createPerformer({