diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/FriendListModel.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/FriendListModel.cpp
index 919998f14..bbb3e7339 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/FriendListModel.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/common/FriendListModel.cpp
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ QVariant RsFriendListModel::decorationRole(const EntryIndex& entry,int col) cons
     {
         if(!isProfileExpanded(entry))
 		{
-			QPixmap sslAvatar;
+			QPixmap sslAvatar(AVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE);
 
         	const HierarchicalProfileInformation *hn = getProfileInfo(entry);