--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@ var parseAtom = function(atom, id, jid) 
 		try{
 			var uri = author.getChild('uri', ns.atom).getText();
 			footer.c('cite').c('a', {href: uri}).t(name).up();
-			avatar.attrs.src = '/avatar/' + uri.substring(5);
+			avatar.attrs.src = config.avatarRoot + uri.substring(5);
+			avatar.attrs.alt = uri.substring(5);
 		} catch (e) {
 			footer.c('cite').t(name);
 		}