diff --git a/src/core/backup_reader.py b/src/core/backup_reader.py
index 71356e8..1006c34 100644
--- a/src/core/backup_reader.py
+++ b/src/core/backup_reader.py
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ class BackupMember:
 
     __slots__ = ("id", "name", "display_name", "bot", "color",
                  "roles", "avatar", "guild_permissions", "discriminator",
-                 "global_name", "created_at", "joined_at", "status", "activity", "system")
+                 "global_name", "created_at", "joined_at", "status", "activity", "system",
+                 "_avatar_url")
 
     def __init__(self, data: dict, role_objects: list | None = None,
                  avatar_base: Path | None = None):
@@ -241,6 +242,10 @@ class BackupMember:
         self.status = type("Status", (), {"value": "offline"})()
         self.activity = None
 
+        # CDN URL from Discord (saved during backup)
+        self._avatar_url = data.get("userAvatarUrl")
+
+        # Local file asset (for reading bytes)
         avatar_rel = data.get("userAvatar")
         if avatar_rel and avatar_base:
             self.avatar = BackupAsset(avatar_base / avatar_rel)
@@ -257,6 +262,11 @@ class BackupMember:
 
     @property
     def display_avatar(self) -> BackupAsset:
+        """Returns an asset with the CDN URL if available, otherwise the local file asset."""
+        if self._avatar_url:
+            asset = BackupAsset(None)
+            asset.url = self._avatar_url
+            return asset
         return self.avatar
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
diff --git a/src/disco_reaper/exporter.py b/src/disco_reaper/exporter.py
index ccd39dc..da69407 100644
--- a/src/disco_reaper/exporter.py
+++ b/src/disco_reaper/exporter.py
@@ -523,7 +523,8 @@ class DiscordExporter:
                 "userColor": str(author.color) if hasattr(author, "color") else None,
                 "userIsBot": author.bot,
                 "userRoles": roles,
-                "userAvatar": f"user_avatars/{user_id}.png" if author.avatar else None
+                "userAvatar": f"user_avatars/{user_id}.png" if author.avatar else None,
+                "userAvatarUrl": str(author.display_avatar.url) if author.avatar else None
             }
 
         reactions = []
diff --git a/src/fluxer/migrate_message.py b/src/fluxer/migrate_message.py
index 25d2a6e..2847cf9 100644
--- a/src/fluxer/migrate_message.py
+++ b/src/fluxer/migrate_message.py
@@ -208,10 +208,14 @@ async def migrate_messages(
                     else:
                         logger.debug(f"Reply target Discord ID {msg.reference.message_id} not found in current session map.")
                 
+                avatar_url = str(msg.author.display_avatar.url) if msg.author.display_avatar.url else None
+                if avatar_url and not avatar_url.startswith("http"):
+                    avatar_url = None
+
                 fluxer_msg_id = await context.fluxer_writer.send_message(
                     channel_id=target_channel_id,
                     author_name=msg.author.display_name,
-                    author_avatar_url=str(msg.author.display_avatar.url),
+                    author_avatar_url=avatar_url,
                     content=content,
                     timestamp=msg.created_at.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
                     files=files if files else None,
diff --git a/src/stoat/migrate_message.py b/src/stoat/migrate_message.py
index 2d30521..aa0dee0 100644
--- a/src/stoat/migrate_message.py
+++ b/src/stoat/migrate_message.py
@@ -213,10 +213,14 @@ async def migrate_messages(
                     else:
                         logger.debug(f"Reply target Discord ID {msg.reference.message_id} not found in current session map.")
                 
+                avatar_url = str(msg.author.display_avatar.url) if msg.author.display_avatar.url else None
+                if avatar_url and not avatar_url.startswith("http"):
+                    avatar_url = None
+
                 stoat_msg_id = await context.stoat_writer.send_message(
                     channel_id=target_channel_id,
                     author_name=msg.author.display_name,
-                    author_avatar_url=str(msg.author.display_avatar.url),
+                    author_avatar_url=avatar_url,
                     content=content,
                     timestamp=msg.created_at.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
                     files=files if files else None,