diff --git a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/avatars/_BaseAvatar.scss b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/avatars/_BaseAvatar.scss
index f23b929b81..106f0cde71 100644
--- a/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/avatars/_BaseAvatar.scss
+++ b/src/skins/vector/css/matrix-react-sdk/views/avatars/_BaseAvatar.scss
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 .mx_BaseAvatar_initial {
     position: absolute;
-    z-index: 1;
     color: $avatar-initial-color;
     text-align: center;
     speak: none;