diff --git a/user/pix.php b/user/pix.php
index 8eb3c099c0b..b3509ef9393 100644
--- a/user/pix.php
+++ b/user/pix.php
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@
 
     if (count($args) == 2) {
         $userid   = (integer)$args[0];
-        $image    = $args[1];
-        $pathname = make_user_directory($userid, true) . "/$image";
-        if (file_exists($pathname) and !is_dir($pathname)) {
-            send_file($pathname, $image);
+        // do not serve images of deleted users
+        if ($user = get_record('user', 'id', $userid, 'deleted', 0, 'picture', 1)) {
+            $image    = $args[1];
+            $pathname = make_user_directory($userid, true) . "/$image";
+            if (file_exists($pathname) and !is_dir($pathname)) {
+                send_file($pathname, $image);
+            }
         }
     }