diff --git a/assets/styles.css b/assets/styles.css
index 5707741..da67e1b 100644
--- a/assets/styles.css
+++ b/assets/styles.css
@@ -154,15 +154,40 @@
   margin-bottom: var(--space-s);
 }
 
+.ms-item-card__avatar-wrap {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  height: 40px;
+  position: relative;
+  width: 40px;
+}
+
+.ms-item-card__avatar-wrap > img {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+
 .ms-item-card__author-photo {
   border: var(--border-width-thin) solid var(--color-offset);
   border-radius: 50%;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
   height: 40px;
   object-fit: cover;
   width: 40px;
 }
 
+.ms-item-card__author-photo--default {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: var(--color-offset);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  color: var(--color-on-offset);
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: var(--font-size-s);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  height: 40px;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 40px;
+}
+
 .ms-item-card__author-info {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
@@ -496,6 +521,19 @@
   margin-bottom: var(--space-m);
 }
 
+.ms-item__avatar-wrap {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  height: 48px;
+  position: relative;
+  width: 48px;
+}
+
+.ms-item__avatar-wrap > img {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+
 .ms-item__author-photo {
   border-radius: 50%;
   height: 48px;
@@ -503,6 +541,19 @@
   width: 48px;
 }
 
+.ms-item__author-photo--default {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: var(--color-offset);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  color: var(--color-on-offset);
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: var(--font-size-m);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  height: 48px;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 48px;
+}
+
 .ms-item__author-info {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
@@ -1010,12 +1061,37 @@
   gap: var(--space-m);
 }
 
+.ms-actor-profile__avatar-wrap {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  height: 80px;
+  position: relative;
+  width: 80px;
+}
+
+.ms-actor-profile__avatar-wrap > img {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 1;
+}
+
 .ms-actor-profile__avatar {
   border-radius: 50%;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
   object-fit: cover;
 }
 
+.ms-actor-profile__avatar--default {
+  align-items: center;
+  background: var(--color-offset);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  color: var(--color-on-offset);
+  display: flex;
+  font-size: var(--font-size-xl);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  height: 80px;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 80px;
+}
+
 .ms-actor-profile__info {
   flex: 1;
   min-width: 0;
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 8187355..f39812a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@rmdes/indiekit-endpoint-microsub",
-  "version": "1.0.48",
+  "version": "1.0.49",
   "description": "Microsub endpoint for Indiekit. Enables subscribing to feeds and reading content using the Microsub protocol.",
   "keywords": [
     "indiekit",
diff --git a/views/actor.njk b/views/actor.njk
index 9623275..fbf156d 100644
--- a/views/actor.njk
+++ b/views/actor.njk
@@ -11,13 +11,16 @@
     {# Actor profile card #}
     <div class="ms-actor-profile">
       <div class="ms-actor-profile__header">
-        {% if actor.photo %}
-        <img src="{{ actor.photo }}"
-             alt=""
-             class="ms-actor-profile__avatar"
-             width="80"
-             height="80">
-        {% endif %}
+        <div class="ms-actor-profile__avatar-wrap" data-avatar-fallback>
+          {% if actor.photo %}
+          <img src="{{ actor.photo }}"
+               alt=""
+               class="ms-actor-profile__avatar"
+               width="80"
+               height="80">
+          {% endif %}
+          <span class="ms-actor-profile__avatar ms-actor-profile__avatar--default" aria-hidden="true">{{ actor.name[0] | upper if actor.name else "?" }}</span>
+        </div>
         <div class="ms-actor-profile__info">
           <h2 class="ms-actor-profile__name">{{ actor.name }}</h2>
           {% if actor.handle %}
@@ -73,14 +76,17 @@
         {# Author #}
         {% if item.author %}
         <div class="ms-item-card__author" style="padding: 12px 16px 0;">
-          {% if item.author.photo %}
-          <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
-               alt=""
-               class="ms-item-card__author-photo"
-               width="40"
-               height="40"
-               loading="lazy">
-          {% endif %}
+          <div class="ms-item-card__avatar-wrap" data-avatar-fallback>
+            {% if item.author.photo %}
+            <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
+                 alt=""
+                 class="ms-item-card__author-photo"
+                 width="40"
+                 height="40"
+                 loading="lazy">
+            {% endif %}
+            <span class="ms-item-card__author-photo ms-item-card__author-photo--default" aria-hidden="true">{{ item.author.name[0] | upper if item.author.name else "?" }}</span>
+          </div>
           <div class="ms-item-card__author-info">
             <span class="ms-item-card__author-name">{{ item.author.name or "Unknown" }}</span>
             {% if item.author.url %}
diff --git a/views/item.njk b/views/item.njk
index 7dc2e5d..43741bf 100644
--- a/views/item.njk
+++ b/views/item.njk
@@ -8,14 +8,17 @@
 
     {% if item.author %}
     <header class="ms-item__author">
-      {% if item.author.photo %}
-      <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
-           alt=""
-           class="ms-item__author-photo"
-           width="48"
-           height="48"
-           loading="lazy">
-      {% endif %}
+      <div class="ms-item__avatar-wrap" data-avatar-fallback>
+        {% if item.author.photo %}
+        <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
+             alt=""
+             class="ms-item__author-photo"
+             width="48"
+             height="48"
+             loading="lazy">
+        {% endif %}
+        <span class="ms-item__author-photo ms-item__author-photo--default" aria-hidden="true">{{ item.author.name[0] | upper if item.author.name else "?" }}</span>
+      </div>
       <div class="ms-item__author-info">
         <span class="ms-item__author-name">
           {% if item.author.url %}
diff --git a/views/layouts/reader.njk b/views/layouts/reader.njk
index 5651b72..66a4844 100644
--- a/views/layouts/reader.njk
+++ b/views/layouts/reader.njk
@@ -9,4 +9,6 @@
 {% include "partials/breadcrumbs.njk" %}
 {% include "partials/view-switcher.njk" %}
 {% block reader %}{% endblock %}
+{# Avatar fallback — remove broken images to reveal initials fallback underneath #}
+<script>document.addEventListener("error",function(e){var t=e.target;if(t.tagName==="IMG"&&t.closest("[data-avatar-fallback]"))t.remove()},true)</script>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/views/partials/author.njk b/views/partials/author.njk
index 7741373..91527e9 100644
--- a/views/partials/author.njk
+++ b/views/partials/author.njk
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 {# Author display #}
 {% if author %}
 <div class="author">
-  {% if author.photo %}
-  <img src="{{ author.photo }}" alt="" class="author__photo" width="48" height="48" loading="lazy">
-  {% endif %}
+  <div class="ms-item__avatar-wrap" data-avatar-fallback>
+    {% if author.photo %}
+    <img src="{{ author.photo }}" alt="" class="author__photo" width="48" height="48" loading="lazy">
+    {% endif %}
+    <span class="ms-item__author-photo ms-item__author-photo--default" aria-hidden="true">{{ author.name[0] | upper if author.name else "?" }}</span>
+  </div>
   <div class="author__info">
     <span class="author__name">
       {% if author.url %}
diff --git a/views/partials/item-card.njk b/views/partials/item-card.njk
index 4354152..4475de5 100644
--- a/views/partials/item-card.njk
+++ b/views/partials/item-card.njk
@@ -53,14 +53,17 @@
     {# Author #}
     {% if item.author %}
     <div class="ms-item-card__author">
-      {% if item.author.photo %}
-      <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
-           alt=""
-           class="ms-item-card__author-photo"
-           width="40"
-           height="40"
-           loading="lazy">
-      {% endif %}
+      <div class="ms-item-card__avatar-wrap" data-avatar-fallback>
+        {% if item.author.photo %}
+        <img src="{{ item.author.photo }}"
+             alt=""
+             class="ms-item-card__author-photo"
+             width="40"
+             height="40"
+             loading="lazy">
+        {% endif %}
+        <span class="ms-item-card__author-photo ms-item-card__author-photo--default" aria-hidden="true">{{ item.author.name[0] | upper if item.author.name else "?" }}</span>
+      </div>
       <div class="ms-item-card__author-info">
         <span class="ms-item-card__author-name">{{ item.author.name or "Unknown" }}</span>
         {% if item._source %}