--- user.module.orig	2007-10-28 15:59:24.000000000 -0700
+++ user.module	2007-10-28 15:48:16.000000000 -0700
@@ -764,6 +764,9 @@
     if (!empty($account->picture) && file_exists($account->picture)) {
       $picture = file_create_url($account->picture);
     }
+    else if (valid_url($account->picture,TRUE)) {
+      $picture = check_url($account->picture);
+    }
     else if (variable_get('user_picture_default', '')) {
       $picture = variable_get('user_picture_default', '');
     }