diff --git a/resources/lib/API.py b/resources/lib/API.py
index 738eb48d..6f297024 100644
--- a/resources/lib/API.py
+++ b/resources/lib/API.py
@@ -120,19 +120,23 @@ class API():
                 }
     
     def getChecksum(self, item):
-        #TODO --> use the etags or serverside checksum for this
-        # for now we just add some fields to a string
+        # use the etags or serverside checksum for this if available
+        # else just add some fields to a string
         checksum = ""
-        userData = item.get("UserData")
-        if(userData != None):
-            checksum += str(userData.get("Played"))
-            checksum += str(userData.get("IsFavorite"))
-            if userData.get('UnplayedItemCount') != None:
-                checksum += str(userData.get("UnplayedItemCount"))
-            if userData.get('LastPlayedDate') != None:
-                checksum += str(userData.get("LastPlayedDate"))
-            if userData.get('PlaybackPositionTicks') != None:
-                checksum += str(userData.get("PlaybackPositionTicks"))
+        
+        if item.get("Etag") != None:
+            checksum = item.get("Etag") 
+        else:
+            userData = item.get("UserData")
+            if(userData != None):
+                checksum += str(userData.get("Played"))
+                checksum += str(userData.get("IsFavorite"))
+                if userData.get('UnplayedItemCount') != None:
+                    checksum += str(userData.get("UnplayedItemCount"))
+                if userData.get('LastPlayedDate') != None:
+                    checksum += str(userData.get("LastPlayedDate"))
+                if userData.get('PlaybackPositionTicks') != None:
+                    checksum += str(userData.get("PlaybackPositionTicks"))
             
         return checksum