diff --git a/js/views/message_view.js b/js/views/message_view.js
index f6e5043f9fbc..02a013deb800 100644
--- a/js/views/message_view.js
+++ b/js/views/message_view.js
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@
             }
             this.avatarView = new (Whisper.View.extend({
                 templateName: 'avatar',
-                render_attributes: { avatar: this.model.getAvatar() }
+                render_attributes: { avatar: this.contact.getAvatar() }
             }))();
             this.$('.avatar').replaceWith(this.avatarView.render().$('.avatar'));
         },