diff --git a/activitypub.c b/activitypub.c
index 1394235..949de47 100644
--- a/activitypub.c
+++ b/activitypub.c
@@ -17,6 +17,22 @@
 
 const char *public_address = "https:/" "/www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public";
 
+/* susie.png */
+const char *susie =
+    "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAEAAAABAAQAAAAC"
+    "CEkxzAAAAUUlEQVQoz43R0QkAMQwCUDdw/y3dwE"
+    "vsvzlL4X1IoQkAisKmwfAFT3RgJHbQezpSRoXEq"
+    "eqCL9BJBf7h3QbOCCxV5EVWMEMwG7K1/WODtlvx"
+    "AYTtEsDU9F34AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC";
+
+
+const char *default_avatar_base64(void)
+/* returns the default avatar in base64 */
+{
+    return susie;
+}
+
+
 int activitypub_request(snac *snac, char *url, d_char **data)
 /* request an object */
 {
diff --git a/html.c b/html.c
index 2abb68e..dde2cf7 100644
--- a/html.c
+++ b/html.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ d_char *html_actor_icon(snac *snac, d_char *os, char *actor,
     }
 
     if (avatar == NULL)
-        avatar = xs_fmt("data:image/png;base64, %s", susie);
+        avatar = xs_fmt("data:image/png;base64, %s", default_avatar_base64());
 
     {
         xs *s1 = xs_fmt("<p><img class=\"snac-avatar\" src=\"%s\" alt=\"\" "
@@ -558,7 +558,6 @@ d_char *html_entry(snac *snac, d_char *os, char *msg, int local, int level, cons
     char *actor;
     int sensitive = 0;
     char *v;
-    xs *likes  = NULL;
     xs *boosts = NULL;
 
     /* do not show non-public messages in the public timeline */
diff --git a/httpd.c b/httpd.c
index 87ff669..c5f9ff8 100644
--- a/httpd.c
+++ b/httpd.c
@@ -14,14 +14,6 @@
 #include <setjmp.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
 
-/* susie.png */
-const char *susie =
-    "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAEAAAABAAQAAAAC"
-    "CEkxzAAAAUUlEQVQoz43R0QkAMQwCUDdw/y3dwE"
-    "vsvzlL4X1IoQkAisKmwfAFT3RgJHbQezpSRoXEq"
-    "eqCL9BJBf7h3QbOCCxV5EVWMEMwG7K1/WODtlvx"
-    "AYTtEsDU9F34AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC";
-
 
 /* nodeinfo 2.0 template */
 const char *nodeinfo_2_0_template = ""
@@ -99,7 +91,7 @@ int server_get_handler(d_char *req, char *q_path,
     else
     if (strcmp(q_path, "/susie.png") == 0 || strcmp(q_path, "/favicon.ico") == 0 ) {
         status = 200;
-        *body  = xs_base64_dec(susie, b_size);
+        *body  = xs_base64_dec(default_avatar_base64(), b_size);
         *ctype = "image/png";
     }
     else
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index b03fd4a..a6f8661 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ extern int     srv_running;
 
 extern int dbglevel;
 
-extern const char *susie;
-
 #define L(s) (s)
 
 int valid_status(int status);
@@ -148,6 +146,8 @@ int webfinger_request(char *qs, char **actor, char **user);
 int webfinger_get_handler(d_char *req, char *q_path,
                           char **body, int *b_size, char **ctype);
 
+const char *default_avatar_base64(void);
+
 d_char *msg_admiration(snac *snac, char *object, char *type);
 d_char *msg_create(snac *snac, char *object);
 d_char *msg_follow(snac *snac, char *actor);