diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/request.rs b/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
index d3e307da5..aaae7f866 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ use crate::{
   utils::proxy_image_link,
 };
 use encoding::{all::encodings, DecoderTrap};
-use lemmy_db_schema::newtypes::DbUrl;
+use lemmy_db_schema::{
+  newtypes::DbUrl,
+  source::images::{LocalImage, LocalImageForm},
+};
 use lemmy_utils::{
   error::{LemmyError, LemmyErrorType},
   settings::structs::{PictrsImageMode, Settings},
@@ -184,7 +187,6 @@ struct PictrsResponse {
 #[derive(Deserialize, Debug)]
 struct PictrsFile {
   file: String,
-  #[allow(dead_code)]
   delete_token: String,
 }
 
@@ -287,6 +289,14 @@ async fn generate_pictrs_thumbnail(
       context.settings().get_protocol_and_hostname(),
       response.files.first().expect("missing pictrs file").file
     ))?;
+    for uploaded_image in response.files {
+      let form = LocalImageForm {
+        local_user_id: None,
+        pictrs_alias: uploaded_image.file.to_string(),
+        pictrs_delete_token: uploaded_image.delete_token.to_string(),
+      };
+      LocalImage::create(&mut context.pool(), &form).await?;
+    }
     Ok(thumbnail_url)
   } else {
     Err(LemmyErrorType::PictrsResponseError(response.msg))?
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
index 739ff8482..632f7d0bb 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/schema.rs
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ diesel::table! {
 
 diesel::table! {
     local_image (pictrs_alias) {
-        local_user_id -> Int4,
+        local_user_id -> Nullable<Int4>,
         pictrs_alias -> Text,
         pictrs_delete_token -> Text,
         published -> Timestamptz,
diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/source/images.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/source/images.rs
index f8befb856..3bf2a5bb8 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/source/images.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/source/images.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@ use crate::newtypes::{DbUrl, LocalUserId};
 #[cfg(feature = "full")]
 use crate::schema::{local_image, remote_image};
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use serde_with::skip_serializing_none;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
 use typed_builder::TypedBuilder;
 
-#[skip_serializing_none]
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", derive(Queryable, Associations))]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", diesel(table_name = local_image))]
@@ -15,7 +13,7 @@ use typed_builder::TypedBuilder;
   diesel(belongs_to(crate::source::local_user::LocalUser))
 )]
 pub struct LocalImage {
-  pub local_user_id: LocalUserId,
+  pub local_user_id: Option<LocalUserId>,
   pub pictrs_alias: String,
   pub pictrs_delete_token: String,
   pub published: DateTime<Utc>,
@@ -25,14 +23,13 @@ pub struct LocalImage {
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", derive(Insertable, AsChangeset))]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", diesel(table_name = local_image))]
 pub struct LocalImageForm {
-  pub local_user_id: LocalUserId,
+  pub local_user_id: Option<LocalUserId>,
   pub pictrs_alias: String,
   pub pictrs_delete_token: String,
 }
 
 /// Stores all images which are hosted on remote domains. When attempting to proxy an image, it
 /// is checked against this table to avoid Lemmy being used as a general purpose proxy.
-#[skip_serializing_none]
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Clone)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", derive(Queryable, Identifiable))]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "full", diesel(table_name = remote_image))]
diff --git a/crates/routes/src/images.rs b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
index f40b3c10c..58ca9c8ef 100644
--- a/crates/routes/src/images.rs
+++ b/crates/routes/src/images.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ async fn upload(
   if let Some(images) = &images.files {
     for uploaded_image in images {
       let form = LocalImageForm {
-        local_user_id: local_user_view.local_user.id,
+        local_user_id: Some(local_user_view.local_user.id),
         pictrs_alias: uploaded_image.file.to_string(),
         pictrs_delete_token: uploaded_image.delete_token.to_string(),
       };
diff --git a/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/down.sql b/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..45d890467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ALTER TABLE local_image
+    ALTER COLUMN local_user_id SET NOT NULL;
+
diff --git a/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/up.sql b/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b80098161
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-03-06-104706_local_image_user_opt/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ALTER TABLE local_image
+    ALTER COLUMN local_user_id DROP NOT NULL;
+