diff --git a/src/dvclive/dvc.py b/src/dvclive/dvc.py
index 2e6511d3..ada2cb0d 100644
--- a/src/dvclive/dvc.py
+++ b/src/dvclive/dvc.py
@@ -147,8 +147,12 @@ def mark_dvclive_only_ended():
 
 
 def get_random_exp_name(scm, baseline_rev):
+    from dvc.repo.experiments.utils import gen_random_name
     from dvc.repo.experiments.utils import (
         get_random_exp_name as dvc_get_random_exp_name,
     )
 
-    return dvc_get_random_exp_name(scm, baseline_rev)
+    if scm and baseline_rev:
+        return dvc_get_random_exp_name(scm, baseline_rev)
+    # TODO: ping studio for list of existing names to check against
+    return gen_random_name()
diff --git a/src/dvclive/live.py b/src/dvclive/live.py
index 963a834a..d28da142 100644
--- a/src/dvclive/live.py
+++ b/src/dvclive/live.py
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ def _init_dvc(self):
 
         self._exp_name = os.getenv(env.DVC_EXP_NAME)
         self._baseline_rev = os.getenv(env.DVC_EXP_BASELINE_REV)
+        if not self._exp_name:
+            scm = self._dvc_repo.scm if self._dvc_repo else None
+            self._exp_name = get_random_exp_name(scm, self._baseline_rev)
 
         if self._dvc_repo and self._baseline_rev and self._exp_name:
             # `dvc exp` execution
@@ -162,8 +165,8 @@ def _init_dvc(self):
             return
 
         self._baseline_rev = self._dvc_repo.scm.get_rev()
+
         if self._save_dvc_exp:
-            self._exp_name = get_random_exp_name(self._dvc_repo.scm, self._baseline_rev)
             mark_dvclive_only_started()
             self._include_untracked.append(self.dir)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_dvc.py b/tests/test_dvc.py
index 529c5571..970ff4ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_dvc.py
+++ b/tests/test_dvc.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def test_exp_save_on_end(tmp_dir, save, mocked_dvc_repo):
         )
     else:
         assert live._baseline_rev is not None
-        assert live._exp_name is None
+        assert live._exp_name is not None
         mocked_dvc_repo.experiments.save.assert_not_called()
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_studio.py b/tests/test_studio.py
index 5b3aedb3..1aa0dc85 100644
--- a/tests/test_studio.py
+++ b/tests/test_studio.py
@@ -397,11 +397,6 @@ def test_post_to_studio_inside_subdir_dvc_exp(
     )
 
 
-def test_post_to_studio_requires_exp(tmp_dir, mocked_dvc_repo, mocked_studio_post):
-    assert Live()._studio_events_to_skip == {"start", "data", "done"}
-    assert not Live(save_dvc_exp=True)._studio_events_to_skip
-
-
 def test_get_dvc_studio_config_none(mocker):
     mocker.patch("dvclive.live.get_dvc_repo", return_value=None)
     live = Live()
@@ -486,11 +481,13 @@ def test_post_to_studio_message(tmp_dir, mocked_dvc_repo, mocked_studio_post):
     )
 
 
-def test_post_to_studio_no_repo(tmp_dir, monkeypatch, mocked_studio_post):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("exp_name", [True, False])
+def test_post_to_studio_no_repo(tmp_dir, monkeypatch, mocked_studio_post, exp_name):
     monkeypatch.setenv(DVC_STUDIO_TOKEN, "STUDIO_TOKEN")
     monkeypatch.setenv(DVC_STUDIO_REPO_URL, "STUDIO_REPO_URL")
     monkeypatch.setenv(DVC_EXP_BASELINE_REV, "f" * 40)
-    monkeypatch.setenv(DVC_EXP_NAME, "bar")
+    if exp_name:
+        monkeypatch.setenv(DVC_EXP_NAME, "bar")
 
     live = Live(save_dvc_exp=True)
     live.log_param("fooparam", 1)