diff --git a/libretroshare/src/services/p3statusservice.cc b/libretroshare/src/services/p3statusservice.cc
index 72c2cef5b..ae3419f46 100644
--- a/libretroshare/src/services/p3statusservice.cc
+++ b/libretroshare/src/services/p3statusservice.cc
@@ -70,7 +70,16 @@ bool p3StatusService::getOwnStatus(StatusInfo& statusInfo)
 
 	if (it == mStatusInfoMap.end()){
 		std::cerr << "p3StatusService::saveList() :" << "Did not find your status" << ownId << std::endl;
-		return false;
+
+		// own status not set, set it to online
+		statusInfo.id = ownId;
+		statusInfo.status = RS_STATUS_ONLINE;
+
+		std::pair<std::string, StatusInfo> pr(ownId, statusInfo);
+		mStatusInfoMap.insert(pr);
+		IndicateConfigChanged();
+
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	statusInfo = it->second;
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/AvatarWidget.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/AvatarWidget.cpp
index 24d6dd1a9..32418ce40 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/AvatarWidget.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/AvatarWidget.cpp
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ void AvatarWidget::refreshStatus()
 		{
 			StatusInfo statusInfo;
 
-			// No check of return value. Non existing status info is handled as offline.
 			if (mFlag.isOwnId) {
 				rsStatus->getOwnStatus(statusInfo);
 			} else {
+				// No check of return value. Non existing status info is handled as offline.
 				rsStatus->getStatus(mId, statusInfo);
 			}
 			updateStatus(QString::fromStdString(statusInfo.id), statusInfo.status);