diff --git a/src/Module/Photo.php b/src/Module/Photo.php
index 861e0b936a..8faef5aa6d 100644
--- a/src/Module/Photo.php
+++ b/src/Module/Photo.php
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ class Photo extends BaseApi
 					}
 				} elseif (!empty($contact['avatar'])) {
 					$url = $contact['avatar'];
+				} else {
+					$url = '';
 				}
 
 				// If it is a local link, we save resources by just redirecting to it.
@@ -389,8 +391,6 @@ class Photo extends BaseApi
 					}
 				}
 
-				$url = '';
-
 				if (empty($mimetext) && !empty($contact['blurhash'])) {
 					$image = new Image('', image_type_to_mime_type(IMAGETYPE_WEBP));
 					$image->getFromBlurHash($contact['blurhash'], $customsize, $customsize);