diff --git a/litecord/blueprints/users.py b/litecord/blueprints/users.py
index 3e14a9b..c968aa6 100644
--- a/litecord/blueprints/users.py
+++ b/litecord/blueprints/users.py
@@ -173,7 +173,17 @@ async def patch_me():
         """, j['email'], user_id)
         user['email'] = j['email']
 
-    if 'avatar' in j and j['avatar']:
+    # only update if values are different
+    # from what the user gave.
+
+    # this will return false if the client
+    # sends j['avatar'] as the user's
+    # original avatar hash, as they're the
+    # same.
+
+    # IconManager.update will take care of validating
+    # the value once put()-ing
+    if to_update(j, user, 'avatar'):
         new_icon = await app.icons.update(
             'user', user_id, j['avatar'], size=(128, 128))
 
diff --git a/litecord/schemas.py b/litecord/schemas.py
index e1ddeb2..8d72005 100644
--- a/litecord/schemas.py
+++ b/litecord/schemas.py
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ USER_UPDATE = {
     },
 
     'avatar': {
-        'type': 'b64_icon', 'required': False,
+        # can be both b64_icon or string (just the hash)
+        'type': 'string', 'required': False,
         'nullable': True
     },