diff --git a/go-glx/gedcom_import_test.go b/go-glx/gedcom_import_test.go
index b3d873d6..efd3a62d 100644
--- a/go-glx/gedcom_import_test.go
+++ b/go-glx/gedcom_import_test.go
@@ -1595,6 +1595,44 @@ func TestImportCensus_WithMedia(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, mediaLinked, "census OBJE should be linked to source or citation")
 }
 
+// TestImportMedia_EmptyFileSkipped tests that OBJE records with empty FILE
+// values do not create media entities with empty URIs. Fixes #492.
+func TestImportMedia_EmptyFileSkipped(t *testing.T) {
+	gedcom := `0 HEAD
+1 GEDC
+2 VERS 5.5.1
+0 @O1@ OBJE
+1 FILE
+1 TITL Empty file reference
+0 @I1@ INDI
+1 NAME Test /Person/
+0 TRLR`
+
+	glxFile, _, err := ImportGEDCOM(strings.NewReader(gedcom), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Should NOT create a media entity with empty URI — the OBJE should be skipped entirely
+	assert.Empty(t, glxFile.Media, "OBJE with empty FILE should not create any media entity")
+}
+
+// TestImportMedia_NoFileTagSkipped tests that OBJE records with no FILE tag
+// at all do not create media entities.
+func TestImportMedia_NoFileTagSkipped(t *testing.T) {
+	gedcom := `0 HEAD
+1 GEDC
+2 VERS 5.5.1
+0 @O1@ OBJE
+1 TITL Photo with no file reference
+0 @I1@ INDI
+1 NAME Test /Person/
+0 TRLR`
+
+	glxFile, _, err := ImportGEDCOM(strings.NewReader(gedcom), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Empty(t, glxFile.Media, "OBJE with no FILE tag should not create a media entity")
+}
+
 // TestImportFamilyCensus_SingleSpouse tests family census with only one spouse.
 func TestImportFamilyCensus_SingleSpouse(t *testing.T) {
 	gedcom := `0 HEAD
diff --git a/go-glx/gedcom_media.go b/go-glx/gedcom_media.go
index 737bed9b..45b815c0 100644
--- a/go-glx/gedcom_media.go
+++ b/go-glx/gedcom_media.go
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ func convertMedia(objeRecord *GEDCOMRecord, conv *ConversionContext) error {
 	// Convert using common logic
 	media := convertMediaCommon(objeRecord, mediaID, conv)
 
+	// Skip media entities with empty URI — happens when OBJE has no FILE
+	// tag or an empty FILE value and no BLOB data. Fixes #492.
+	if media.URI == "" {
+		conv.Logger.LogInfof("Skipping OBJE %s: no FILE reference or BLOB data", objeRecord.XRef)
+		delete(conv.MediaIDMap, objeRecord.XRef) // clean up stale mapping
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Handle SOUR subrecords (only for top-level OBJE records)
 	for _, sub := range objeRecord.SubRecords {
 		if sub.Tag == GedcomTagSour {
@@ -76,6 +84,12 @@ func convertEmbeddedMedia(objeRecord *GEDCOMRecord, conv *ConversionContext) str
 	// Convert using common logic
 	media := convertMediaCommon(objeRecord, mediaID, conv)
 
+	// Skip if no URI (empty FILE, no BLOB). Fixes #492.
+	if media.URI == "" {
+		conv.Logger.LogInfo("Skipping embedded OBJE: no FILE reference or BLOB data")
+		return ""
+	}
+
 	// Store media
 	conv.GLX.Media[mediaID] = media
 	conv.Stats.MediaCreated++