diff --git a/src/routes/test/profile-test.js b/src/routes/test/profile-test.js
index b2e6bbc70..9a86b52fe 100644
--- a/src/routes/test/profile-test.js
+++ b/src/routes/test/profile-test.js
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ const common = require('./common.js'),
     expect = require('expect.js'),
     speakeasy = require('speakeasy'),
     superagent = require('superagent'),
+    fs = require('fs'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    paths = require('../../paths.js'),
     tokens = require('../../tokens.js');
 
 describe('Profile API', function () {
@@ -304,11 +307,13 @@ describe('Profile API', function () {
     describe('avatar', function () {
         let customAvatarSize = 0;
 
-        it('has no avatar by default (public route)', async function () {
-            const response = await superagent.get(`${serverUrl}/api/v1/profile`)
-                .query({ access_token: user.token });
+        it('placeholder by default', async function () {
+            const defaultAvatar = fs.readFileSync(path.join(paths.DASHBOARD_DIR, '/img/avatar-default-symbolic.svg'));
 
-            expect(response.body.avatarUrl).to.contain('/img/');
+            const response = await superagent.get(`${serverUrl}/api/v1/profile/avatar/${user.id}`);
+
+            expect(response.headers['content-type']).to.equal('image/svg+xml');
+            expect(response.body).to.eql(defaultAvatar);
         });
 
         it('can set custom avatar', async function () {
@@ -345,7 +350,7 @@ describe('Profile API', function () {
             const response = await superagent.get(`${serverUrl}/api/v1/profile`)
                 .query({ access_token: user.token });
 
-            expect(response.body.avatarUrl).to.contain('https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/');
+            expect(response.body.avatarType).to.contain('gravatar');
         });
 
         it('can unset avatar', async function () {
@@ -357,10 +362,12 @@ describe('Profile API', function () {
         });
 
         it('did unset avatar', async function () {
-            const response = await superagent.get(`${serverUrl}/api/v1/profile`)
-                .query({ access_token: user.token });
+            const defaultAvatar = fs.readFileSync(path.join(paths.DASHBOARD_DIR, '/img/avatar-default-symbolic.svg'));
 
-            expect(response.body.avatarUrl).to.contain('/img/');
+            const response = await superagent.get(`${serverUrl}/api/v1/profile/avatar/${user.id}`);
+
+            expect(response.headers['content-type']).to.equal('image/svg+xml');
+            expect(response.body).to.eql(defaultAvatar);
         });
     });
 });