diff --git a/packages/backend/src/models/model.js b/packages/backend/src/models/model.js
index be03d288197..0aa3e344b02 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/models/model.js
+++ b/packages/backend/src/models/model.js
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ ModelSchema.methods.info = function() {
 }
 
 ModelSchema.methods.avatarUri = function(size = "l") {
+  if (this.picture === "") return config.static + "/avatar.svg";
+
   let prefix = (size === "l") ? "" : size+"-";
   return config.static
     +"/models/"