diff --git a/prisma/migrations/20260512024728_make_avatar_url_nullable/migration.sql b/prisma/migrations/20260512024728_make_avatar_url_nullable/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..190610a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prisma/migrations/20260512024728_make_avatar_url_nullable/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "users" ALTER COLUMN "avatar_url" DROP NOT NULL;
diff --git a/prisma/schema.prisma b/prisma/schema.prisma
index 30c00bcd..4b526976 100644
--- a/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ model User {
   name             String @map("name") @db.VarChar(255)
   email            String @unique @map("email")
   googleProviderId String @unique @map("google_provider_id")
-  avatarURL        String @map("avatar_url")
+  avatarURL        String? @map("avatar_url")
 
   // Relations.
   userProfile      UserProfile?
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.svelte b/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..613a10fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  export interface Props {
+    src: string | null;
+    name: string;
+  }
+
+  const { src, name }: Props = $props();
+  const initial = $derived(name.trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase());
+</script>
+
+{#if src}
+  <img {src} alt="profile" class="h-full w-full object-cover" />
+{:else}
+  <span
+    aria-label="profile"
+    class="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center bg-slate-700 text-sm font-semibold text-white"
+  >
+    {initial}
+  </span>
+{/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.test.ts b/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d2e1829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/Avatar/Avatar.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/svelte';
+import { describe, expect, test } from 'vitest';
+
+import { Avatar } from './index.js';
+
+describe('Avatar', () => {
+  test('renders img with the given src when src is provided', () => {
+    const props = { src: 'data:image/png;base64,abc', name: 'Alice' };
+
+    render(Avatar, { props });
+
+    const img = screen.getByRole('img');
+    expect(img).toHaveAttribute('src', 'data:image/png;base64,abc');
+  });
+
+  test('renders initials chip with first letter of name when src is null', () => {
+    const props = { src: null, name: 'Alice' };
+
+    render(Avatar, { props });
+
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('img')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('A')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('uppercases the initial', () => {
+    const props = { src: null, name: 'alice' };
+
+    render(Avatar, { props });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('A')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('trims leading whitespace before taking the initial', () => {
+    const props = { src: null, name: '  alice' };
+
+    render(Avatar, { props });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('A')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/components/Avatar/index.ts b/src/lib/components/Avatar/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1cfa5ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/Avatar/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export { default as Avatar, type Props as AvatarProps } from './Avatar.svelte';
diff --git a/src/lib/server/auth/google.ts b/src/lib/server/auth/google.ts
index afb9cee3..e0fda22c 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/auth/google.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/auth/google.ts
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ export interface GoogleProfile {
    */
   name: string;
   /**
-   * A URL to the picture of the Google profile.
+   * A URL to the picture of the Google profile, or null if Google did not provide a `picture` claim.
    */
-  picture: string;
+  picture: string | null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ export async function verifyIdToken(idToken: string): Promise<GoogleProfile> {
     throw new InvalidIdTokenError('Google ID token payload missing');
   }
   const { sub, email, name, picture } = payload;
-  if (!sub || !email || !name || !picture) {
-    const missing = !sub ? 'sub' : !email ? 'email' : !name ? 'name' : 'picture';
+  if (!sub || !email || !name) {
+    const missing = !sub ? 'sub' : !email ? 'email' : 'name';
     throw new InvalidIdTokenError(`Google ID token missing claim: ${missing}`);
   }
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ export async function verifyIdToken(idToken: string): Promise<GoogleProfile> {
     );
   }
 
-  return { id: sub, email, name, picture };
+  return { id: sub, email, name, picture: picture ?? null };
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/lib/server/cache/avatar.ts b/src/lib/server/cache/avatar.ts
index 2f4a9062..af2a518f 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/cache/avatar.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/cache/avatar.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const AVATAR_TTL = 24 * 60 * 60;
  * for direct use as the `src` of an `<img>` element.
  *
  * @param userId - The ID of the user whose avatar should be retrieved.
- * @returns The base64-encoded avatar, or `null` if the user is not found.
+ * @returns The base64-encoded avatar, or `null` if the user has no avatar URL or is not found.
  */
 export async function getBase64EncodedAvatar(userId: string): Promise<string | null> {
   let avatar = await valkey.get(`${AVATAR_NAMESPACE}:${userId}`);
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export async function getBase64EncodedAvatar(userId: string): Promise<string | n
       id: userId,
     },
   });
-  if (!user) {
+  if (!user || user.avatarURL === null) {
     return null;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/(core)/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/(core)/+layout.svelte
index e5879ac5..d97f366a 100644
--- a/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/(core)/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/(core)/+layout.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   import type { MouseEventHandler } from 'svelte/elements';
 
   import { page } from '$app/state';
+  import { Avatar } from '$lib/components/Avatar/index.js';
   import { trackProfileClick } from '$lib/helpers/analytics.js';
   import { HOME_PATH, IsWithinViewport } from '$lib/helpers/index.js';
 
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@
           class="h-10 w-10 cursor-pointer overflow-hidden rounded-full"
           onclick={handleProfileClick}
         >
-          <img src={data.avatar} alt="profile" />
+          <Avatar src={data.avatar} name={data.username} />
         </a>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/profile/+page.svelte b/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/profile/+page.svelte
index 01f03c2b..d0608208 100644
--- a/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/profile/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/(main)/(protected)/profile/+page.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import { ArrowLeft, BookOpenCheck, Lightbulb } from '@lucide/svelte';
 
   import { afterNavigate } from '$app/navigation';
+  import { Avatar } from '$lib/components/Avatar/index.js';
   import { HOME_PATH, IsWithinViewport } from '$lib/helpers/index.js';
 
   const { data } = $props();
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@
 <main class="relative mx-auto flex min-h-svh max-w-5xl flex-col gap-y-4 px-4 py-3 pt-23">
   <div class="flex items-center gap-x-6 rounded-3xl bg-white p-4">
     <div class="h-10 w-10 overflow-hidden rounded-full">
-      <img src={data.avatar} alt="profile" />
+      <Avatar src={data.avatar} name={data.name} />
     </div>
 
     <div class="flex flex-col">