diff --git a/src/component-index.js b/src/component-index.js
index f75dfa5d67..b391016fcd 100644
--- a/src/component-index.js
+++ b/src/component-index.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ module.exports.components['structures.RoomView'] = require('./components/structu
 module.exports.components['structures.ScrollPanel'] = require('./components/structures/ScrollPanel');
 module.exports.components['structures.UploadBar'] = require('./components/structures/UploadBar');
 module.exports.components['structures.UserSettings'] = require('./components/structures/UserSettings');
+module.exports.components['views.avatars.BaseAvatar'] = require('./components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar');
 module.exports.components['views.avatars.MemberAvatar'] = require('./components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar');
 module.exports.components['views.avatars.RoomAvatar'] = require('./components/views/avatars/RoomAvatar');
 module.exports.components['views.create_room.CreateRoomButton'] = require('./components/views/create_room/CreateRoomButton');
diff --git a/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js b/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a7dcc1c01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket 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.
+*/
+
+'use strict';
+
+var React = require('react');
+var AvatarLogic = require("../../../Avatar");
+
+module.exports = React.createClass({
+    displayName: 'BaseAvatar',
+
+    propTypes: {
+        name: React.PropTypes.string.isRequired, // The name (first initial used as default)
+        idName: React.PropTypes.string, // ID for generating hash colours
+        title: React.PropTypes.string, // onHover title text
+        url: React.PropTypes.string, // highest priority of them all, shortcut to set in urls[0]
+        urls: React.PropTypes.array, // [highest_priority, ... , lowest_priority]
+        width: React.PropTypes.number,
+        height: React.PropTypes.number,
+        resizeMethod: React.PropTypes.string,
+        defaultToInitialLetter: React.PropTypes.bool // true to add default url
+    },
+
+    getDefaultProps: function() {
+        return {
+            width: 40,
+            height: 40,
+            resizeMethod: 'crop',
+            defaultToInitialLetter: true
+        }
+    },
+
+    getInitialState: function() {
+        return this._getState(this.props);
+    },
+
+    componentWillReceiveProps: function(nextProps) {
+        // work out if we need to call setState (if the image URLs array has changed)
+        var newState = this._getState(nextProps);
+        var newImageUrls = newState.imageUrls;
+        var oldImageUrls = this.state.imageUrls;
+        if (newImageUrls.length !== oldImageUrls.length) {
+            this.setState(newState); // detected a new entry
+        }
+        else {
+            // check each one to see if they are the same
+            for (var i = 0; i < newImageUrls.length; i++) {
+                if (oldImageUrls[i] !== newImageUrls[i]) {
+                    this.setState(newState); // detected a diff
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    },
+
+    _getState: function(props) {
+        // work out the full set of urls to try to load. This is formed like so:
+        // imageUrls: [ props.url, props.urls, default image ]
+
+        var urls = props.urls || [];
+        if (props.url) {
+            urls.unshift(props.url); // put in urls[0]
+        }
+
+        var defaultImageUrl = null;
+        if (props.defaultToInitialLetter) {
+            defaultImageUrl = AvatarLogic.defaultAvatarUrlForString(
+                props.idName || props.name
+            );
+            urls.push(defaultImageUrl); // lowest priority
+        }
+        return {
+            imageUrls: urls,
+            defaultImageUrl: defaultImageUrl,
+            urlsIndex: 0
+        };
+    },
+
+    onError: function(ev) {
+        var nextIndex = this.state.urlsIndex + 1;
+        if (nextIndex < this.state.imageUrls.length) {
+            // try the next one
+            this.setState({
+                urlsIndex: nextIndex
+            });
+        }
+    },
+
+    _getInitialLetter: function() {
+        var name = this.props.name;
+        var initial = name[0];
+        if ((initial === '@' || initial === '#') && name[1]) {
+            initial = name[1];
+        }
+        return initial.toUpperCase();
+    },
+
+    render: function() {
+        var name = this.props.name;
+
+        var imageUrl = this.state.imageUrls[this.state.urlsIndex];
+
+        if (imageUrl === this.state.defaultImageUrl) {
+            var initialLetter = this._getInitialLetter();
+            return (
+                <span className="mx_BaseAvatar" {...this.props}>
+                    <span className="mx_BaseAvatar_initial" aria-hidden="true"
+                            style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.65) + "px",
+                                    width: this.props.width + "px",
+                                    lineHeight: this.props.height + "px" }}>
+                        { initialLetter }
+                    </span>
+                    <img className="mx_BaseAvatar_image" src={imageUrl}
+                        title={this.props.title} onError={this.onError}
+                        width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height} />
+                </span>
+            );            
+        }
+        return (
+            <img className="mx_BaseAvatar mx_BaseAvatar_image" src={imageUrl}
+                onError={this.onError}
+                width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height}
+                title={this.props.title}
+                {...this.props} />
+        );
+    }
+});
diff --git a/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js b/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
index f209006b1c..5e2dbbb23a 100644
--- a/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
+++ b/src/components/views/avatars/MemberAvatar.js
@@ -18,22 +18,16 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 var React = require('react');
 var Avatar = require('../../../Avatar');
-var MatrixClientPeg = require('../../../MatrixClientPeg');
+var sdk = require("../../../index");
 
 module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'MemberAvatar',
 
     propTypes: {
-        member: React.PropTypes.object,
+        member: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
         width: React.PropTypes.number,
         height: React.PropTypes.number,
-        resizeMethod: React.PropTypes.string,
-        /**
-         * The custom display name to use for this member. This can serve as a
-         * drop in replacement for RoomMember objects, or as a clobber name on
-         * an existing RoomMember. Used for 3pid invites.
-         */
-        customDisplayName: React.PropTypes.string
+        resizeMethod: React.PropTypes.string
     },
 
     getDefaultProps: function() {
@@ -45,77 +39,29 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     getInitialState: function() {
-        var defaultImageUrl = Avatar.defaultAvatarUrlForString(
-            this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.userId
-        )
-        return {
-            imageUrl: this._getMemberImageUrl() || defaultImageUrl,
-            defaultImageUrl: defaultImageUrl
-        };
+        return this._getState(this.props);
     },
 
     componentWillReceiveProps: function(nextProps) {
-        this.refreshUrl();
+        this.setState(this._getState(nextProps));
     },
 
-    onError: function(ev) {
-        // don't tightloop if the browser can't load a data url
-        if (ev.target.src == this.state.defaultImageUrl) {
-            return;
-        }
-        this.setState({
-            imageUrl: this.state.defaultImageUrl
-        });
-    },
-
-    _getMemberImageUrl: function() {
-        if (!this.props.member) { return null; }
-
-        return Avatar.avatarUrlForMember(this.props.member,
-                                         this.props.width,
-                                         this.props.height,
-                                         this.props.resizeMethod);
-    },
-
-    _getInitialLetter: function() {
-        var name = this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.name;
-        var initial = name[0];
-        if (initial === '@' && name[1]) {
-            initial = name[1];
-        }
-        return initial.toUpperCase();
-    },
-
-    refreshUrl: function() {
-        var newUrl = this._getMemberImageUrl();
-        if (newUrl != this.currentUrl) {
-            this.currentUrl = newUrl;
-            this.setState({imageUrl: newUrl});
+    _getState: function(props) {
+        return {
+            name: props.member.name,
+            title: props.member.userId,
+            imageUrl: Avatar.avatarUrlForMember(props.member,
+                                         props.width,
+                                         props.height,
+                                         props.resizeMethod)
         }
     },
 
     render: function() {
-        var name = this.props.customDisplayName || this.props.member.name;
-
-        if (this.state.imageUrl === this.state.defaultImageUrl) {
-            var initialLetter = this._getInitialLetter();
-            return (
-                <span className="mx_MemberAvatar" {...this.props}>
-                    <span className="mx_MemberAvatar_initial" aria-hidden="true"
-                          style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.65) + "px",
-                                   width: this.props.width + "px",
-                                   lineHeight: this.props.height + "px" }}>{ initialLetter }</span>
-                    <img className="mx_MemberAvatar_image" src={this.state.imageUrl} title={name}
-                         onError={this.onError} width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height} />
-                </span>
-            );            
-        }
+        var BaseAvatar = sdk.getComponent("avatars.BaseAvatar");
         return (
-            <img className="mx_MemberAvatar mx_MemberAvatar_image" src={this.state.imageUrl}
-                onError={this.onError}
-                width={this.props.width} height={this.props.height}
-                title={name}
-                {...this.props} />
+            <BaseAvatar {...this.props} name={this.state.name} title={this.state.title}
+                idName={this.props.member.userId} url={this.state.imageUrl} />
         );
     }
 });
diff --git a/src/components/views/avatars/RoomAvatar.js b/src/components/views/avatars/RoomAvatar.js
index a83bc799a2..72ca5f7f21 100644
--- a/src/components/views/avatars/RoomAvatar.js
+++ b/src/components/views/avatars/RoomAvatar.js
@@ -16,10 +16,18 @@ limitations under the License.
 var React = require('react');
 var MatrixClientPeg = require('../../../MatrixClientPeg');
 var Avatar = require('../../../Avatar');
+var sdk = require("../../../index");
 
 module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'RoomAvatar',
 
+    propTypes: {
+        room: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        width: React.PropTypes.number,
+        height: React.PropTypes.number,
+        resizeMethod: React.PropTypes.string
+    },
+
     getDefaultProps: function() {
         return {
             width: 36,
@@ -29,84 +37,54 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     },
 
     getInitialState: function() {
-        this._update();
         return {
-            imageUrl: this._nextUrl()
+            urls: this.getImageUrls(this.props)
         };
     },
 
-    componentWillReceiveProps: function(nextProps) {
-        this.refreshImageUrl();
+    componentWillReceiveProps: function(newProps) {
+        this.setState({
+            urls: this.getImageUrls(newProps)
+        })
     },
 
-    refreshImageUrl: function(nextProps) {
-        // If the list has changed, we start from scratch and re-check, but
-        // don't do so unless the list has changed or we'd re-try fetching
-        // images each time we re-rendered
-        var newList = this.getUrlList();
-        var differs = false;
-        for (var i = 0; i < newList.length && i < this.urlList.length; ++i) {
-            if (this.urlList[i] != newList[i]) differs = true;
-        }
-        if (this.urlList.length != newList.length) differs = true;
-
-        if (differs) {
-            this._update();
-            this.setState({
-                imageUrl: this._nextUrl()
-            });
-        }
+    getImageUrls: function(props) {
+        return [
+            this.getRoomAvatarUrl(props), // highest priority
+            this.getOneToOneAvatar(props),
+            this.getFallbackAvatar(props) // lowest priority
+        ].filter(function(url) {
+            return url != null;
+        });
     },
 
-    _update: function() {
-        this.urlList = this.getUrlList();
-        this.urlListIndex = -1;
-    },
-
-    _nextUrl: function() {
-        do {
-            ++this.urlListIndex;
-        } while (
-            this.urlList[this.urlListIndex] === null &&
-            this.urlListIndex < this.urlList.length
-        );
-        if (this.urlListIndex < this.urlList.length) {
-            return this.urlList[this.urlListIndex];
-        } else {
-            return null;
-        }
-    },
-
-    // provided to the view class for convenience
-    roomAvatarUrl: function() {
-        var url = this.props.room.getAvatarUrl(
+    getRoomAvatarUrl: function(props) {
+        return props.room.getAvatarUrl(
             MatrixClientPeg.get().getHomeserverUrl(),
-            this.props.width, this.props.height, this.props.resizeMethod,
+            props.width, props.height, props.resizeMethod,
             false
         );
-        return url;
     },
 
-    // provided to the view class for convenience
-    getOneToOneAvatar: function() {
-        var userIds = Object.keys(this.props.room.currentState.members);
+    getOneToOneAvatar: function(props) {
+        var userIds = Object.keys(props.room.currentState.members);
 
         if (userIds.length == 2) {
             var theOtherGuy = null;
-            if (this.props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]].userId == MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId) {
-                theOtherGuy = this.props.room.currentState.members[userIds[1]];
+            if (props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]].userId == MatrixClientPeg.get().credentials.userId) {
+                theOtherGuy = props.room.currentState.members[userIds[1]];
             } else {
-                theOtherGuy = this.props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]];
+                theOtherGuy = props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]];
             }
             return theOtherGuy.getAvatarUrl(
                 MatrixClientPeg.get().getHomeserverUrl(),
-                this.props.width, this.props.height, this.props.resizeMethod,
+                props.width, props.height, props.resizeMethod,
                 false
             );
         } else if (userIds.length == 1) {
-            return this.props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]].getAvatarUrl(
+            return props.room.currentState.members[userIds[0]].getAvatarUrl(
                 MatrixClientPeg.get().getHomeserverUrl(),
-                this.props.width, this.props.height, this.props.resizeMethod,
+                props.width, props.height, props.resizeMethod,
                     false
             );
         } else {
@@ -114,58 +92,15 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
     },
 
-
-    onError: function(ev) {
-        this.setState({
-            imageUrl: this._nextUrl()
-        });
-    },
-
-
-
-    ////////////
-
-
-    getUrlList: function() {
-        return [
-            this.roomAvatarUrl(),
-            this.getOneToOneAvatar(),
-            this.getFallbackAvatar()
-        ];
-    },
-
-    getFallbackAvatar: function() {
-        return Avatar.defaultAvatarUrlForString(this.props.room.roomId);
+    getFallbackAvatar: function(props) {
+        return Avatar.defaultAvatarUrlForString(props.room.roomId);
     },
 
     render: function() {
-        var style = {
-            width: this.props.width,
-            height: this.props.height,
-        };
-
-        // XXX: recalculates fallback avatar constantly
-        if (this.state.imageUrl === this.getFallbackAvatar()) {
-            var initial;
-            if (this.props.room.name[0])
-                initial = this.props.room.name[0].toUpperCase();
-            if ((initial === '@' || initial === '#') && this.props.room.name[1])
-                initial = this.props.room.name[1].toUpperCase();
-         
-            return (
-                <span>
-                    <span className="mx_RoomAvatar_initial" aria-hidden="true"
-                          style={{ fontSize: (this.props.width * 0.65) + "px",
-                                   width: this.props.width + "px",
-                                   lineHeight: this.props.height + "px" }}>{ initial }</span>
-                    <img className="mx_RoomAvatar" src={this.state.imageUrl}
-                            onError={this.onError} style={style} />
-                </span>
-            );
-        }
-        else {
-            return <img className="mx_RoomAvatar" src={this.state.imageUrl}
-                        onError={this.onError} style={style} />
-        }
+        var BaseAvatar = sdk.getComponent("avatars.BaseAvatar");
+        return (
+            <BaseAvatar {...this.props} name={this.props.room.name}
+                idName={this.props.room.roomId} urls={this.state.urls} />
+        );
     }
 });
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
index 58d9d59276..a5dbea65f6 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.js
@@ -151,14 +151,26 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         }
 
         var MemberAvatar = sdk.getComponent('avatars.MemberAvatar');
+        var BaseAvatar = sdk.getComponent('avatars.BaseAvatar');
+
+        var av;
+        if (member) {
+            av = (
+                <MemberAvatar member={this.props.member} width={36} height={36} />
+            );
+        }
+        else {
+            av = (
+                <BaseAvatar name={name} width={36} height={36} />
+            );
+        }
 
         return (
             <div className={mainClassName} title={ this.getPowerLabel() }
                     onClick={ this.onClick } onMouseEnter={ this.mouseEnter }
                     onMouseLeave={ this.mouseLeave }>
                 <div className="mx_MemberTile_avatar">
-                    <MemberAvatar member={this.props.member} width={36} height={36}
-                        customDisplayName={this.props.customDisplayName} />
+                    {av}
                 </div>
                 { nameEl }
             </div>
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomHeader.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomHeader.js
index 8d419f7be6..5340798875 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomHeader.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomHeader.js
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 else {
                     roomAvatar = (
                         <div onClick={this.props.onSettingsClick}>
-                            <RoomAvatar room={this.props.room} width="48" height="48"/>
+                            <RoomAvatar room={this.props.room} width={48} height={48}/>
                         </div>
                     );
                 }
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
index 16d798cb87..29b35c040c 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomTile.js
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         return connectDragSource(connectDropTarget(
             <div className={classes} onClick={this.onClick} onMouseEnter={this.onMouseEnter} onMouseLeave={this.onMouseLeave}>
                 <div className="mx_RoomTile_avatar">
-                    <RoomAvatar room={this.props.room} width="24" height="24" />
+                    <RoomAvatar room={this.props.room} width={24} height={24} />
                     { badge }
                 </div>
                 { label }