diff --git a/apps/web/app/orgs/[orgslug]/(withmenu)/course/[courseuuid]/course.tsx b/apps/web/app/orgs/[orgslug]/(withmenu)/course/[courseuuid]/course.tsx
index 097e6249..fd58842b 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/orgs/[orgslug]/(withmenu)/course/[courseuuid]/course.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/orgs/[orgslug]/(withmenu)/course/[courseuuid]/course.tsx
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ const CourseClient = (props: any) => {
                   <UserAvatar
                     border="border-8"
                     avatar_url={course.authors[0].avatar_image ? getUserAvatarMediaDirectory(course.authors[0].user_uuid, course.authors[0].avatar_image) : ''}
+                    predefined_avatar={course.authors[0].avatar_image  ? undefined : 'empty'}
                     width={100}
                   />
                   <div className="-space-y-2 ">
diff --git a/apps/web/components/Objects/UserAvatar.tsx b/apps/web/components/Objects/UserAvatar.tsx
index 5fda8006..a89163e8 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/Objects/UserAvatar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/Objects/UserAvatar.tsx
@@ -16,17 +16,24 @@ type UserAvatarProps = {
     | 'rounded'
   border?: 'border-2' | 'border-4' | 'border-8'
   borderColor?: string
-  predefined_avatar?: 'ai'
+  predefined_avatar?: 'ai' | 'empty' 
 }
 
 function UserAvatar(props: UserAvatarProps) {
   const session = useSession() as any
   const params = useParams() as any
 
-  const predefinedAvatar =
-    props.predefined_avatar === 'ai'
-      ? getUriWithOrg(params.orgslug, '/ai_avatar.png')
-      : null
+  const predefinedAvatarFunc = () => {
+    if (props.predefined_avatar === 'ai') {
+      return getUriWithOrg(params.orgslug, '/ai_avatar.png')
+    }
+    if (props.predefined_avatar === 'empty') {
+      return getUriWithOrg(params.orgslug, '/empty_avatar.png')
+    }
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const predefinedAvatar = predefinedAvatarFunc()
   const emptyAvatar = getUriWithOrg(params.orgslug, '/empty_avatar.png') as any
   const uploadedAvatar = getUserAvatarMediaDirectory(
     session.user.user_uuid,