diff --git a/api/user_avatar.php b/api/user_avatar.php
index 44daa36..a472a30 100644
--- a/api/user_avatar.php
+++ b/api/user_avatar.php
@@ -130,17 +130,8 @@ try {
 
     $entries = ldap_get_entries($ldap, $search);
     if ($entries['count'] > 0 && !empty($entries[0]['avatar'][0])) {
-        // lldap stores the avatar as a base64-encoded string in the LDAP attribute
-        $avatarRaw = $entries[0]['avatar'][0];
-        // ldap_get_entries already decodes binary attributes; but lldap stores
-        // the avatar as a base64 string within the attribute value itself.
-        // Detect: if it starts with /9j/ (JPEG magic in base64) decode it.
-        if (substr($avatarRaw, 0, 4) === '/9j/') {
-            $avatarData = base64_decode($avatarRaw);
-        } else {
-            // Raw binary JPEG (starts with FF D8)
-            $avatarData = $avatarRaw;
-        }
+        // ldap_get_entries() returns the attribute value as raw binary.
+        $avatarData = $entries[0]['avatar'][0];
     }
 
     ldap_unbind($ldap);