diff --git a/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs b/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
index 4965963..e23176f 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
@@ -133,31 +133,50 @@ pub async fn fetch_actor(
     Ok(actor)
 }
 
-pub async fn fetch_avatar_and_banner(
+pub async fn fetch_actor_avatar(
     actor: &Actor,
     media_dir: &Path,
-) -> Result<(Option<String>, Option<String>), FetchError> {
-    let avatar = match &actor.icon {
+    default: Option<String>,
+) -> Option<String> {
+    match &actor.icon {
         Some(icon) => {
-            let (file_name, _) = fetch_file(
-                &icon.url,
-                media_dir,
-            ).await?;
-            Some(file_name)
+            match fetch_file(&icon.url, media_dir).await {
+                Ok((file_name, _)) => Some(file_name),
+                Err(error) => {
+                    log::warn!(
+                        "failed to fetch avatar for {} ({})",
+                        actor.id,
+                        error,
+                    );
+                    default
+                },
+            }
         },
         None => None,
-    };
-    let banner = match &actor.image {
+    }
+}
+
+pub async fn fetch_actor_banner(
+    actor: &Actor,
+    media_dir: &Path,
+    default: Option<String>,
+) -> Option<String> {
+    match &actor.image {
         Some(image) => {
-            let (file_name, _) = fetch_file(
-                &image.url,
-                media_dir,
-            ).await?;
-            Some(file_name)
+            match fetch_file(&image.url, media_dir).await {
+                Ok((file_name, _)) => Some(file_name),
+                Err(error) => {
+                    log::warn!(
+                        "failed to fetch banner for {} ({})",
+                        actor.id,
+                        error,
+                    );
+                    default
+                },
+            }
         },
         None => None,
-    };
-    Ok((avatar, banner))
+    }
 }
 
 pub async fn fetch_object(
diff --git a/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs b/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
index 6073068..b5035b9 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ use crate::models::profiles::queries::{
 use crate::models::profiles::types::{DbActorProfile, ProfileCreateData};
 use super::fetchers::{
     fetch_actor,
-    fetch_avatar_and_banner,
+    fetch_actor_avatar,
+    fetch_actor_banner,
     fetch_object,
     perform_webfinger_query,
     FetchError,
@@ -66,7 +67,8 @@ async fn prepare_remote_profile_data(
     if actor_address.is_local {
         return Err(ImportError::LocalObject);
     };
-    let (avatar, banner) = fetch_avatar_and_banner(&actor, media_dir).await?;
+    let avatar = fetch_actor_avatar(&actor, media_dir, None).await;
+    let banner = fetch_actor_banner(&actor, media_dir, None).await;
     let (identity_proofs, extra_fields) = actor.parse_attachments();
     let profile_data = ProfileCreateData {
         username: actor.preferred_username.clone(),
diff --git a/src/activitypub/handlers/update_person.rs b/src/activitypub/handlers/update_person.rs
index e37c09b..c6ac920 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/handlers/update_person.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/handlers/update_person.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use tokio_postgres::GenericClient;
 use crate::activitypub::{
     activity::Activity,
     actor::Actor,
-    fetcher::fetchers::fetch_avatar_and_banner,
+    fetcher::fetchers::{fetch_actor_avatar, fetch_actor_banner},
     fetcher::helpers::ImportError,
     vocabulary::PERSON,
 };
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ pub async fn update_remote_profile(
             actor.public_key.public_key_pem,
         );
     };
-    let (avatar, banner) = fetch_avatar_and_banner(&actor, media_dir).await?;
+    let avatar = fetch_actor_avatar(&actor, media_dir, profile.avatar_file_name).await;
+    let banner = fetch_actor_banner(&actor, media_dir, profile.banner_file_name).await;
     let (identity_proofs, extra_fields) = actor.parse_attachments();
     let mut profile_data = ProfileUpdateData {
         display_name: actor.name.clone(),