diff --git a/phpBB/includes/functions_compatibility.php b/phpBB/includes/functions_compatibility.php
index 11ef982a40..4f96e46417 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/functions_compatibility.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/functions_compatibility.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ if (!defined('IN_PHPBB'))
 
 /**
 * Get user avatar
-* Added in phpBB 3.1.0-A1
+* Compatibility function added: phpBB 3.1.0-A1
 * 
 * @param string $avatar Users assigned avatar name
 * @param int $avatar_type Type of avatar
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ if (!defined('IN_PHPBB'))
 */
 function get_user_avatar($avatar, $avatar_type, $avatar_width, $avatar_height, $alt = 'USER_AVATAR', $ignore_config = false)
 {
+	global $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx;
+
 	// map arguments to new function phpbb_get_avatar()
 	$row = array(
 		'avatar'		=> $avatar,
@@ -38,5 +40,10 @@ function get_user_avatar($avatar, $avatar_type, $avatar_width, $avatar_height, $
 		'avatar_height'	=> $avatar_height,
 	);
 
+	if (!function_exists('phpbb_get_avatar'))
+	{
+		include($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/functions_display.' . $phpEx);
+	}
+
 	return phpbb_get_avatar($row, $alt, $ignore_config);
 }