diff --git a/api-server/src/server/boot/settings.js b/api-server/src/server/boot/settings.js
index fd3f07f6fcc..bb9b035bcc4 100644
--- a/api-server/src/server/boot/settings.js
+++ b/api-server/src/server/boot/settings.js
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ function updateMyAbout(req, res, next) {
   // prevent dataurls from being stored
   const update = isURL(picture, { require_protocol: true })
     ? { name, location, about, picture }
-    : { name, location, about };
+    : { name, location, about, picture: '' };
   return user.updateAttributes(
     update,
     createStandardHandler(req, res, next, 'flash.updated-about-me')
diff --git a/api/src/routes/settings.ts b/api/src/routes/settings.ts
index 0b575d9e128..065df49a18b 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/settings.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/settings.ts
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ ${isLinkSentWithinLimitTTL}`
             about: req.body.about,
             name: req.body.name,
             location: req.body.location,
-            ...(hasProtocol && { picture: req.body.picture })
+            picture: hasProtocol ? req.body.picture : ''
           }
         });
 
diff --git a/client/src/components/settings/about.tsx b/client/src/components/settings/about.tsx
index 0450f298938..63bc2a4cd04 100644
--- a/client/src/components/settings/about.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/settings/about.tsx
@@ -165,7 +165,11 @@ class AboutSettings extends Component<AboutProps, AboutState> {
 
   handlePictureChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
     const value = (e.target as HTMLInputElement).value.slice(0);
-    if (isURL(value, { require_protocol: true })) {
+    if (!value) {
+      this.setState({
+        isPictureUrlValid: true
+      });
+    } else if (isURL(value, { require_protocol: true })) {
       this.validationImage.src = encodeURI(value);
     } else {
       this.setState({