diff --git a/goodnews/api.py b/goodnews/api.py
index 1544396..7338ae9 100644
--- a/goodnews/api.py
+++ b/goodnews/api.py
@@ -432,6 +432,8 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
         try:
             tokens = oauth_google.exchange_code(code, _google_redirect_uri(), verifier)
             info = oauth_google.verify_id_token(tokens["id_token"])
+            if not info.get("picture") and tokens.get("access_token"):
+                info["picture"] = oauth_google.fetch_userinfo(tokens["access_token"]).get("picture")
         except Exception:
             return fail
         with get_conn() as conn:
diff --git a/goodnews/auth.py b/goodnews/auth.py
index d3032e8..278f238 100644
--- a/goodnews/auth.py
+++ b/goodnews/auth.py
@@ -69,27 +69,29 @@ def find_or_create_user(
         (provider, provider_subject),
     ).fetchone()
     if existing:
-        return existing["user_id"]
+        user_id = existing["user_id"]
+    else:
+        user = conn.execute("SELECT id FROM users WHERE email = ?", (email,)).fetchone()
+        if user:
+            user_id = user["id"]
+        else:
+            user_id = conn.execute(
+                "INSERT INTO users (email, display_name, avatar_url) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+                (email, display_name, avatar_url),
+            ).lastrowid
+        conn.execute(
+            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO identities (user_id, provider, provider_subject) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
+            (user_id, provider, provider_subject),
+        )
 
-    user = conn.execute("SELECT id FROM users WHERE email = ?", (email,)).fetchone()
-    if user:
-        user_id = user["id"]
-        # Fill display name if missing; refresh avatar whenever the provider gives one.
+    # Always refresh provider-supplied profile bits (even for a returning identity):
+    # fill the name if missing, and keep the avatar current when the provider sends one.
+    if display_name or avatar_url:
         conn.execute(
             "UPDATE users SET display_name = COALESCE(display_name, ?), "
             "avatar_url = COALESCE(?, avatar_url), updated_at = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP WHERE id = ?",
             (display_name, avatar_url, user_id),
         )
-    else:
-        user_id = conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO users (email, display_name, avatar_url) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
-            (email, display_name, avatar_url),
-        ).lastrowid
-
-    conn.execute(
-        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO identities (user_id, provider, provider_subject) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
-        (user_id, provider, provider_subject),
-    )
     return user_id
 
 
diff --git a/goodnews/oauth_google.py b/goodnews/oauth_google.py
index a0fdc24..9fa1d81 100644
--- a/goodnews/oauth_google.py
+++ b/goodnews/oauth_google.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 AUTH_URL = "https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/v2/auth"
 TOKEN_URL = "https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token"
+USERINFO_URL = "https://openidconnect.googleapis.com/v1/userinfo"
 _VALID_ISS = {"accounts.google.com", "https://accounts.google.com"}
 
 
@@ -75,6 +76,19 @@ def exchange_code(code: str, redirect_uri: str, code_verifier: str) -> dict:
         return json.loads(response.read())
 
 
+def fetch_userinfo(access_token: str) -> dict:
+    """Call the OIDC userinfo endpoint — a reliable source for the profile picture
+    if the ID token happens to omit it. Best-effort; returns {} on any error."""
+    request = urllib.request.Request(
+        USERINFO_URL, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}", "Accept": "application/json"}
+    )
+    try:
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=10) as response:
+            return json.loads(response.read())
+    except Exception:
+        return {}
+
+
 def _decode_jwt_payload(token: str) -> dict:
     parts = token.split(".")
     if len(parts) != 3:
diff --git a/tests/test_auth.py b/tests/test_auth.py
index d1ca21e..6bcf9b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_auth.py
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ def test_find_or_create_links_by_email_and_dedupes_identity():
     assert auth.get_user(c, uid)["display_name"] == "A"
 
 
+def test_returning_identity_refreshes_avatar():
+    c = _db()
+    uid = auth.find_or_create_user(c, "a@b.com", "google", "gsub", display_name="A", avatar_url="http://pic/1")
+    assert auth.get_user(c, uid)["avatar_url"] == "http://pic/1"
+    # a repeat sign-in with the SAME identity must still refresh the picture
+    assert auth.find_or_create_user(c, "a@b.com", "google", "gsub", avatar_url="http://pic/2") == uid
+    assert auth.get_user(c, uid)["avatar_url"] == "http://pic/2"
+
+
 def test_magic_link_token_single_use():
     c = _db()
     raw = auth.create_login_token(c, "a@b.com")