diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 0a3d11b..f854cb5 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -843,11 +843,12 @@ class Object(StringIdModel):
         protocol = PROTOCOLS.get(self.source_protocol) or Protocol
         return protocol.subdomain_url(f'convert/web/{id}')
 
-    def actor_link(self, sized=False):
+    def actor_link(self, image=True, sized=False):
         """Returns a pretty HTML link with the actor's name and picture.
 
         Args:
-          sized (bool): if True, sets an explicit size (``width=32``) on the
+          image (bool): whether to include an ``img`` tag with the actor's picture
+          sized (bool): whether to set an explicit (``width=32``) size on the
             profile picture ``img` tag
 
         Returns:
@@ -879,13 +880,13 @@ class Object(StringIdModel):
 
         url = util.get_first(actor, 'url') or ''
         name = actor.get('displayName') or actor.get('username') or ''
-        image = util.get_url(actor, 'image')
-        if not image:
+        img_url = util.get_url(actor, 'image')
+        if not image or not img_url:
             return common.pretty_link(url, text=name, attrs=attrs)
 
         return f"""\
         <a class="h-card u-author" href="{url}" title="{name}">
-          <img class="profile" src="{image}" {'width="32"' if sized else ''}/>
+          <img class="profile" src="{img_url}" {'width="32"' if sized else ''}/>
           {util.ellipsize(name, chars=40)}
         </a>"""
 
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index fd880fd..e5350de 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -422,6 +422,17 @@ class ObjectTest(TestCase):
         obj = Object(id='x', source_protocol='fake', our_as1={'actor': 'fake:alice'})
         self.assertIn('Alice', obj.actor_link())
 
+    def test_actor_link_no_image(self):
+        obj = Object(id='x', our_as1={
+            'actor': {
+                'displayName': 'Alice',
+                'image': 'foo.jpg',
+            },
+        })
+        self.assert_multiline_equals(
+            '<a class="h-card u-author" href="">Alice</a>',
+            obj.actor_link(image=False))
+
     def test_actor_link_sized(self):
         obj = Object(id='x', our_as1={
             'actor': {