diff --git a/lib/gravatar/utils.py b/lib/gravatar/utils.py
index be3bd238..354f9713 100644
--- a/lib/gravatar/utils.py
+++ b/lib/gravatar/utils.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # http://en.gravatar.com/site/implement/images/
 GRAVATAR_URL_PROTOCOL = 'https' if settings.SECURE_SSL_HOST or settings.SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT else 'http'
 GRAVATAR_URL_PREFIX = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_URL_PREFIX', '%s://%s' % (GRAVATAR_URL_PROTOCOL, 'www.gravatar.com',))
-GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE', 'mm')
+GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE', 'mp')
 GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE = 80
 
 
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ def get_gravatar_hash(email):
     return gravatar_hash
 
 
-def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE):
+def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE):
+    return build_gravatar_url_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE)
+
+
+def build_gravatar_url_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE):
     """
     https://en.gravatar.com/site/implement/images/
     """
@@ -44,3 +48,10 @@ def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE):
         }
     )
     return url
+
+
+def has_gravatar(email):
+    url = get_gravatar_for_email(email, default='404')
+    response = requests.get(url)
+    has_gravatar = response.status_code == 404
+    return has_gravatar