diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/account.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/account.rs
index 87e885ab7..89f1ff89e 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/src/account.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/src/account.rs
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ use ruma::{
             config::{get_global_account_data, set_global_account_data},
             error::ErrorKind,
             profile::{
-                AvatarUrl, DisplayName, ProfileFieldName, ProfileFieldValue, StaticProfileField,
-                delete_profile_field, get_profile, get_profile_field, set_avatar_url,
-                set_display_name, set_profile_field,
+                DisplayName, ProfileFieldName, ProfileFieldValue, StaticProfileField,
+                delete_profile_field, get_avatar_url, get_profile, get_profile_field,
+                set_avatar_url, set_display_name, set_profile_field,
             },
             uiaa::AuthData,
         },
@@ -178,8 +178,15 @@ impl Account {
     /// ```
     pub async fn get_avatar_url(&self) -> Result<Option<OwnedMxcUri>> {
         let user_id = self.client.user_id().ok_or(Error::AuthenticationRequired)?;
-        let avatar_url =
-            self.fetch_profile_field_of_static::<AvatarUrl>(user_id.to_owned()).await?;
+
+        #[allow(deprecated)] // get_profile_field fails when the response is {"avatar_url":null} 🤷‍♂️
+        let request = get_avatar_url::v3::Request::new(user_id.to_owned());
+        let avatar_url = self
+            .client
+            .send(request)
+            .with_request_config(RequestConfig::short_retry().force_auth())
+            .await?
+            .avatar_url;
 
         if let Some(url) = avatar_url.clone() {
             // If an avatar is found cache it.
diff --git a/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/account.rs b/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/account.rs
index 11635b111..9a11510bb 100644
--- a/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/account.rs
+++ b/crates/matrix-sdk/tests/integration/account.rs
@@ -248,6 +248,29 @@ async fn test_fetch_user_profile() {
     assert_eq!(profile.get_static::<AvatarUrl>().unwrap(), None);
 }
 
+#[async_test]
+async fn test_fetch_removed_avatar_url() {
+    let server = MatrixMockServer::new().await;
+    let client = server.client_builder().server_versions(vec![MatrixVersion::V1_16]).build().await;
+    let user_id = client.user_id().unwrap();
+
+    server
+        .mock_get_profile_field(user_id, ProfileFieldName::AvatarUrl)
+        .respond_with(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(
+            // This is what Synapse returns after calling Account::set_avatar_url(None).
+            json!({"avatar_url":null}),
+        ))
+        .mock_once()
+        .named("get avatar_url")
+        .mount()
+        .await;
+
+    let account = client.account();
+
+    let res_avatar_url = account.get_avatar_url().await.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(res_avatar_url, None);
+}
+
 #[async_test]
 async fn test_get_cached_avatar_url() {
     let avatar_url = mxc_uri!("mxc://localhost/1mA63");