diff --git a/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/core/extensions/CharSequence.kt b/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/core/extensions/CharSequence.kt
deleted file mode 100644
index b16c110a93..0000000000
--- a/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/core/extensions/CharSequence.kt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2019 New Vector Ltd
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package im.vector.riotredesign.core.extensions
-
-
-fun CharSequence.firstCharAsString(): String {
-    return if (isNotEmpty()) this[0].toString() else ""
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/features/home/AvatarRenderer.kt b/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/features/home/AvatarRenderer.kt
index 5e66ddba27..ae21e6b916 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/features/home/AvatarRenderer.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/im/vector/riotredesign/features/home/AvatarRenderer.kt
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
 import com.amulyakhare.textdrawable.TextDrawable
 import com.bumptech.glide.request.RequestOptions
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.Matrix
+import im.vector.matrix.android.api.MatrixPatterns
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.session.room.model.RoomMember
 import im.vector.matrix.android.api.session.room.model.RoomSummary
 import im.vector.riotredesign.R
-import im.vector.riotredesign.core.extensions.firstCharAsString
 import im.vector.riotredesign.core.glide.GlideApp
 
 object AvatarRenderer {
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ object AvatarRenderer {
         }
         val resolvedUrl = Matrix.getInstance().currentSession.contentUrlResolver().resolveFullSize(avatarUrl)
         val avatarColor = ContextCompat.getColor(imageView.context, R.color.pale_teal)
-        val fallbackDrawable = TextDrawable.builder().buildRound(name.firstCharAsString().toUpperCase(), avatarColor)
+        val isNameUserId = MatrixPatterns.isUserId(name)
+        val firstLetterIndex = if (isNameUserId) 1 else 0
+        val firstLetter = name[firstLetterIndex].toString().toUpperCase()
+        val fallbackDrawable = TextDrawable.builder().buildRound(firstLetter, avatarColor)
 
         GlideApp
                 .with(imageView)