diff --git a/e107_handlers/e_parse_class.php b/e107_handlers/e_parse_class.php
index f2ad711b6d..ce876e67eb 100644
--- a/e107_handlers/e_parse_class.php
+++ b/e107_handlers/e_parse_class.php
@@ -4682,14 +4682,22 @@ public function toAvatar($userData = null, $options = array())
 		$image = (!empty($userData['user_image'])) ? varset($userData['user_image']) : null;
 
 		$genericFile = e_IMAGE . 'generic/blank_avatar.jpg';
-		$genericImg = $tp->thumbUrl($genericFile, 'w=' . $width . '&h=' . $height, true, $full);
+		$genericImg = $tp->thumbUrl($genericFile, 'w=' . $width . '&h=' . $height, false, $full);
 
 		if (!empty($image))
 		{
 
 			if (strpos($image, '://') !== false) // Remote Image
 			{
-				$url = $image;
+				if (@fopen($image, 'r'))
+				{
+                    $url = $image;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+					$file = $genericFile;
+					$url = $genericImg;
+                }
 			}
 			elseif (strpos($image, '-upload-') === 0)
 			{