diff --git a/osu.Game/Users/UpdateableAvatar.cs b/osu.Game/Users/UpdateableAvatar.cs
index 7259468674..8eb08f963d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Users/UpdateableAvatar.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Users/UpdateableAvatar.cs
@@ -10,12 +10,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Users
     /// <summary>
     /// An avatar which can update to a new user when needed.
     /// </summary>
-    public class UpdateableAvatar : Container
+    public class UpdateableAvatar : ModelBackedDrawable<User>
     {
-        private Drawable displayedAvatar;
-
-        private User user;
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Whether to show a default guest representation on null user (as opposed to nothing).
         /// </summary>
@@ -23,17 +19,8 @@ public class UpdateableAvatar : Container
 
         public User User
         {
-            get => user;
-            set
-            {
-                if (user?.Id == value?.Id)
-                    return;
-
-                user = value;
-
-                if (IsLoaded)
-                    updateAvatar();
-            }
+            get => Model;
+            set => Model = value;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -41,17 +28,8 @@ public User User
         /// </summary>
         public readonly BindableBool OpenOnClick = new BindableBool(true);
 
-        protected override void LoadComplete()
+        protected override Drawable CreateDrawable(User user)
         {
-            base.LoadComplete();
-            updateAvatar();
-        }
-
-        private void updateAvatar()
-        {
-            displayedAvatar?.FadeOut(300);
-            displayedAvatar?.Expire();
-
             if (user != null || ShowGuestOnNull)
             {
                 var avatar = new Avatar(user)
@@ -62,8 +40,10 @@ private void updateAvatar()
                 avatar.OnLoadComplete += d => d.FadeInFromZero(300, Easing.OutQuint);
                 avatar.OpenOnClick.BindTo(OpenOnClick);
 
-                Add(displayedAvatar = new DelayedLoadWrapper(avatar));
+                return avatar;
             }
+
+            return null;
         }
     }
 }