diff --git a/thoughts-frontend/components/thought-thread.tsx b/thoughts-frontend/components/thought-thread.tsx
index 1640288..c256db7 100644
--- a/thoughts-frontend/components/thought-thread.tsx
+++ b/thoughts-frontend/components/thought-thread.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ export function ThoughtThread({
   const author = {
     username: thought.author.username,
     displayName: thought.author.displayName,
-    ...authorDetails.get(thought.author.username),
+    avatarUrl: thought.author.avatarUrl, // API-provided avatar (from DB COALESCE)
+    ...authorDetails.get(thought.author.username), // override for local users
   };
 
   return (