diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 272880dd..cd86a358 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ class Community(db.Model):
                         return self.icon.source_url.replace('app/', '/')
                     else:
                         return self.icon.source_url
-        return ''
+        return '/static/images/1px.gif'
 
     @cache.memoize(timeout=500)
     def header_image(self) -> str:
diff --git a/app/static/images/1px.gif b/app/static/images/1px.gif
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d5215850
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/static/images/1px.gif differ
diff --git a/app/static/styles.css b/app/static/styles.css
index 2b39f51d..d5a1402e 100644
--- a/app/static/styles.css
+++ b/app/static/styles.css
@@ -457,6 +457,10 @@ nav.navbar {
   vertical-align: text-top;
 }
 
+.list-group-item .community_icon {
+  vertical-align: middle;
+}
+
 .community_icon_big {
   width: 20vw;
   height: 20vw;
diff --git a/app/static/styles.scss b/app/static/styles.scss
index 15a97f11..d9b8737f 100644
--- a/app/static/styles.scss
+++ b/app/static/styles.scss
@@ -123,6 +123,10 @@ nav.navbar {
   vertical-align: text-top;
 }
 
+.list-group-item .community_icon {
+  vertical-align: middle;
+}
+
 .community_icon_big {
   width: 20vw;
   height: 20vw;