diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
index ab621777..3d6e65cc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/avatar.html
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-<img class="avatar image {% if large %}is-96x96{% else %}is-32x32{% endif %}" src="{% if user.avatar %}/images/{{ user.avatar }}{% else %}/static/images/default_avi.jpg{% endif %}">
+<img class="avatar image {% if large %}is-96x96{% else %}is-32x32{% endif %}" src="{% if user.avatar %}/images/{{ user.avatar }}{% else %}/static/images/default_avi.jpg{% endif %}" alt="avatar for {{ user|username }}">