diff --git a/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/[username]/layout.tsx b/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/[username]/layout.tsx
index c5e46d3..d4d7208 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/[username]/layout.tsx
+++ b/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/[username]/layout.tsx
@@ -7,20 +7,20 @@ export async function generateMetadata({
 }): Promise<Metadata> {
   const { username } = await params;
   const title = `@${username}`;
-  const description = `View ${username}'s approved public profile on Dev Nepal, including the details they chose to share.`;
+  // Metadata is built from the URL alone, so it must not claim the profile
+  // exists or is approved.
+  const description = `Dev Nepal member profile for @${username}.`;
   return {
     title,
     description,
     openGraph: {
       title: `${title} · Dev Nepal`,
       description,
-      images: [`https://github.com/${username}.png`],
     },
     twitter: {
       card: "summary",
       title: `${title} · Dev Nepal`,
       description,
-      images: [`https://github.com/${username}.png`],
     },
   };
 }
diff --git a/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/page.tsx b/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/page.tsx
index d75e801..3039f6b 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/api/src/app/(site)/[locale]/members/page.tsx
@@ -214,14 +214,10 @@ export default function MembersPage() {
                         <td className="px-5 py-4">
                           <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                             <Avatar className="size-10">
-                              <AvatarImage
-                                src={
-                                  member.avatarUrl ??
-                                  `https://github.com/${member.githubUsername}.png`
-                                }
-                                alt={member.displayName}
-                              />
-                              <AvatarFallback>
+                              {member.avatarUrl !== null ? (
+                                <AvatarImage src={member.avatarUrl} alt={member.displayName} />
+                              ) : null}
+                              <AvatarFallback aria-hidden>
                                 {member.displayName.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()}
                               </AvatarFallback>
                             </Avatar>
diff --git a/apps/api/src/components/modules/members/member-card.tsx b/apps/api/src/components/modules/members/member-card.tsx
index c43f074..fb336b0 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/components/modules/members/member-card.tsx
+++ b/apps/api/src/components/modules/members/member-card.tsx
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@ export function MemberCard({
   className?: string;
 }) {
   const profileHref = localePath(locale, `/members/${member.githubUsername}`);
-  const avatarSrc = member.avatarUrl ?? `https://github.com/${member.githubUsername}.png`;
   const skills = useMemo(
     () => member.skills.map((skill) => dict.members.skillNames[skill]),
     [member.skills, dict],
@@ -166,12 +165,15 @@ export function MemberCard({
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
           <Avatar size="xl">
             {/* A late image fades in; Base UI skips the fade for one already cached. */}
-            <AvatarImage
-              src={avatarSrc}
-              alt=""
-              className="transition-opacity duration-200 ease-out data-starting-style:opacity-0"
-            />
-            <AvatarFallback>{initials(member.displayName)}</AvatarFallback>
+            {member.avatarUrl !== null ? (
+              <AvatarImage
+                src={member.avatarUrl}
+                alt=""
+                className="transition-opacity duration-200 ease-out data-starting-style:opacity-0"
+              />
+            ) : null}
+            {/* The name is shown next to the avatar, so the initials are decorative. */}
+            <AvatarFallback aria-hidden>{initials(member.displayName)}</AvatarFallback>
             <AvatarBadge className="bg-background text-primary ring-0">
               <SealCheckIcon weight="fill" aria-hidden />
             </AvatarBadge>