diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index c6e6771bd..0e524faac 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import pyqrcode
 # for saving images
 from hashlib import sha256
 from hashlib import md5
+from shutil import copyfile
 from session import createSession
 from webfinger import webfingerMeta
 from webfinger import webfingerNodeInfo
@@ -10413,6 +10414,10 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         nickname = getNicknameFromActor(path)
         bannerFilename = \
             acctDir(baseDir, nickname, domain) + '/search_banner.png'
+        if not os.path.isfile(bannerFilename):
+            if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/default/search_banner.png'):
+                copyfile(baseDir + '/default/search_banner.png',
+                         bannerFilename)
         if os.path.isfile(bannerFilename):
             if self._etag_exists(bannerFilename):
                 # The file has not changed
diff --git a/webapp_utils.py b/webapp_utils.py
index e3bbe47e6..75c30bcf3 100644
--- a/webapp_utils.py
+++ b/webapp_utils.py
@@ -475,16 +475,6 @@ def _getImageFile(baseDir: str, name: str, directory: str,
             bannerFile = name + '_' + theme + '.' + ext
             bannerFilename = bannerFilenameTest
             return bannerFile, bannerFilename
-    # if not found then use the default image
-    theme = 'default'
-    directory = baseDir + '/theme/' + theme
-    for ext in bannerExtensions:
-        bannerFileTest = name + '.' + ext
-        bannerFilenameTest = directory + '/' + bannerFileTest
-        if os.path.isfile(bannerFilenameTest):
-            bannerFile = name + '_' + theme + '.' + ext
-            bannerFilename = bannerFilenameTest
-            break
     return bannerFile, bannerFilename