diff --git a/models/User.js b/models/User.js
index 9f9ed09556..d881ed860d 100644
--- a/models/User.js
+++ b/models/User.js
@@ -64,16 +64,15 @@ userSchema.methods.comparePassword = function(candidatePassword, cb) {
  * Used in Navbar and Account Management page.
  */
 
-userSchema.methods.gravatar = function(size, defaults) {
+userSchema.methods.gravatar = function(size) {
   if (!size) size = 200;
-  if (!defaults) defaults = 'retro';
 
   if (!this.email) {
-    return 'https://gravatar.com/avatar/?s=' + size + '&d=' + defaults;
+    return 'https://gravatar.com/avatar/?s=' + size + '&d=retro';
   }
 
-  var md5 = crypto.createHash('md5').update(this.email);
-  return 'https://gravatar.com/avatar/' + md5.digest('hex').toString() + '?s=' + size + '&d=' + defaults;
+  var md5 = crypto.createHash('md5').update(this.email).digest('hex');
+  return 'https://gravatar.com/avatar/' + md5 + '?s=' + size + '&d=retro';
 };
 
 module.exports = mongoose.model('User', userSchema);