diff --git a/avatar/util.py b/avatar/util.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/avatar/util.py
+++ b/avatar/util.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ def get_default_avatar_url():
     base_url = getattr(settings, 'STATIC_URL', None)
     if not base_url:
         base_url = getattr(settings, 'MEDIA_URL', '')
-    # Don't use base_url if the default avatar url starts with http:// 
-    if AVATAR_DEFAULT_URL.startswith('http://'):
+    # Don't use base_url if the default avatar url starts with http:// of https://
+    if AVATAR_DEFAULT_URL.startswith('http://') or AVATAR_DEFAULT_URL.startswith('https://'):
         return AVATAR_DEFAULT_URL
     # We'll be nice and make sure there are no duplicated forward slashes
     ends = base_url.endswith('/')
The default avatar URL could also start with https.