diff --git a/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_image.js b/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_image.js
index ac4789a4c6..da78a37553 100644
--- a/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_image.js
+++ b/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_image.js
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ var et2_avatar = (function(){ "use strict"; return et2_image.extend(
 	{
 		this._super.apply(this,arguments);
 		var self = this;
-		if (this.options.editable)
+		if (this.options.contact_id && this.options.editable)
 		{
 			egw(window).json(
 				'addressbook.addressbook_ui.ajax_noPhotoExists',
diff --git a/api/src/Contacts/Storage.php b/api/src/Contacts/Storage.php
index 78c7ba8a32..dea939afbf 100755
--- a/api/src/Contacts/Storage.php
+++ b/api/src/Contacts/Storage.php
@@ -603,6 +603,10 @@ class Storage
 	*/
 	function read($contact_id)
 	{
+		if (empty($contact_id))
+		{
+			return false;	// no need to pass to backend, will fail anyway
+		}
 		if (!is_array($contact_id) && substr($contact_id,0,8) == 'account:')
 		{
 			$contact_id = array('account_id' => (int) substr($contact_id,8));