diff --git a/changes/2556.fix.md b/changes/2556.fix.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..79c5719f0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/2556.fix.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Prevent session status from being transit to `PULLING` status event if image pull is not required
diff --git a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/image.py b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/image.py
index bc0c92d99d..6ea48935c4 100644
--- a/src/ai/backend/manager/models/image.py
+++ b/src/ai/backend/manager/models/image.py
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ def _parse_row(self):
             "tag": self.tag,
             "architecture": self.architecture,
             "registry": self.registry,
-            "digest": self.config_digest,
+            "digest": self.config_digest.strip() if self.config_digest else None,
             "labels": self.labels,
             "size_bytes": self.size_bytes,
             "resource_limits": res_limits,
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ def populate_row(
             registry=row.registry,
             architecture=row.architecture,
             is_local=row.is_local,
-            digest=row.config_digest,
+            digest=row.config_digest.strip() if row.config_digest else None,
             labels=[KVPair(key=k, value=v) for k, v in row.labels.items()],
             aliases=[alias_row.alias for alias_row in row.aliases],
             size_bytes=row.size_bytes,
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ def populate_row(
             installed=len(installed_agents) > 0,
             installed_agents=installed_agents if not hide_agents else None,
             # legacy
-            hash=row.config_digest,
+            hash=row.config_digest.strip() if row.config_digest else None,
         )
         ret.raw_labels = row.labels
         return ret
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ def from_row(cls, row: ImageRow | None) -> ImageNode | None:
             registry=row.registry,
             architecture=row.architecture,
             is_local=row.is_local,
-            digest=row.config_digest,
+            digest=row.config_digest.strip() if row.config_digest else None,
             labels=[KVPair(key=k, value=v) for k, v in row.labels.items()],
             size_bytes=row.size_bytes,
             resource_limits=[