diff --git a/src/components/views/room_settings/RoomProfileSettings.js b/src/components/views/room_settings/RoomProfileSettings.js
index 2093a31a28..abcdce23f8 100644
--- a/src/components/views/room_settings/RoomProfileSettings.js
+++ b/src/components/views/room_settings/RoomProfileSettings.js
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ export default class RoomProfileSettings extends React.Component {
             newState.avatarUrl = client.mxcUrlToHttp(uri, 96, 96, 'crop', false);
             newState.originalAvatarUrl = newState.avatarUrl;
             newState.avatarFile = null;
+        } else if (this.state.originalAvatarUrl !== this.state.avatarUrl) {
+            await client.sendStateEvent(this.props.roomId, 'm.room.avatar', {url: undefined}, '');
         }
 
         if (this.state.originalTopic !== this.state.topic) {
diff --git a/src/components/views/settings/ProfileSettings.js b/src/components/views/settings/ProfileSettings.js
index 480b414911..b56321c1c9 100644
--- a/src/components/views/settings/ProfileSettings.js
+++ b/src/components/views/settings/ProfileSettings.js
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ export default class ProfileSettings extends React.Component {
             newState.avatarUrl = client.mxcUrlToHttp(uri, 96, 96, 'crop', false);
             newState.originalAvatarUrl = newState.avatarUrl;
             newState.avatarFile = null;
+        } else if (this.state.originalAvatarUrl !== this.state.avatarUrl) {
+            await client.setAvatarUrl(""); // use empty string as Synapse 500s on undefined
         }
 
         this.setState(newState);