diff --git a/src/modules/instance.js b/src/modules/instance.js
index 2859b00b17..d686f25835 100644
--- a/src/modules/instance.js
+++ b/src/modules/instance.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ const defaultState = {
   useAtIcon: false,
   mentionLinkDisplay: 'short',
   mentionLinkShowTooltip: true,
-  mentionLinkShowAvatar: true,
+  mentionLinkShowAvatar: false,
   mentionLinkFadeDomain: true,
   hideFilteredStatuses: false,
   // bad name: actually hides posts of muted USERS