diff --git a/app/controllers/avatars.php b/app/controllers/avatars.php
index 432fd0c62c..8015489c87 100644
--- a/app/controllers/avatars.php
+++ b/app/controllers/avatars.php
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ $avatarCallback = function ($type, $code, $width, $height, $quality) use ($types
     $path = $types[$type][$code];
     $type = 'png';
 
-    if (!file_exists($path)) {
+    if (!is_readable($path)) {
         throw new Exception('File not found in '.$path, 404);
     }