diff --git a/models/user.go b/models/user.go
index dad252d92..cb57b05e5 100755
--- a/models/user.go
+++ b/models/user.go
@@ -495,6 +495,9 @@ func (u *User) RealSizedAvatarLink(size int) string {
 // may either be a sub-URL to this site, or a full URL to an external avatar
 // service.
 func (u *User) RelAvatarLink() string {
+	if u.Avatar != "" {
+		return u.CustomAvatarPath()
+	}
 	return u.SizedRelAvatarLink(base.DefaultAvatarSize)
 }