diff --git a/phpBB/install/install_install.php b/phpBB/install/install_install.php
index 9b27a268f5..3b963e75c0 100644
--- a/phpBB/install/install_install.php
+++ b/phpBB/install/install_install.php
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class install_install extends module
 				$this->add_language($mode, $sub);
 				$this->add_bots($mode, $sub);
 				$this->email_admin($mode, $sub);
+				$this->disable_avatars_if_unwritable();
 
 				// Remove the lock file
 				@unlink($phpbb_root_path . 'cache/install_lock');
@@ -1874,6 +1875,21 @@ class install_install extends module
 		));
 	}
 
+	/**
+	* Check if the avatar directory is writable and disable avatars
+	* if it isn't writable.
+	*/
+	function disable_avatars_if_unwritable()
+	{
+		global $phpbb_root_path;
+
+		if (!phpbb_is_writable($phpbb_root_path . 'images/avatars/upload/'))
+		{
+			set_config('allow_avatar', 0);
+			set_config('allow_avatar_upload', 0);
+		}
+	}
+
 	/**
 	* Generate a list of available mail server authentication methods
 	*/
diff --git a/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql b/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
index ec162754cb..2ea5eca768 100644
--- a/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
+++ b/phpBB/install/schemas/schema_data.sql
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('active_sessions', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_attachments', '1');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_autologin', '1');
-INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar', '0');
+INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar', '1');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar_local', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar_remote', '0');
-INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar_upload', '0');
+INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar_upload', '1');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_avatar_remote_upload', '0');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_bbcode', '1');
 INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('allow_birthdays', '1');