diff --git a/lib/src/conditional/io_conditional.dart b/lib/src/conditional/io_conditional.dart
index c9dd7e60a..e5be8243e 100644
--- a/lib/src/conditional/io_conditional.dart
+++ b/lib/src/conditional/io_conditional.dart
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ class IOConditional extends BaseConditional {
   ImageProvider getProvider(String uri, {Map<String, String>? headers}) {
     if (uri.startsWith('http')) {
       return NetworkImage(uri, headers: headers);
+    } else if (uri.startsWith('assets/')) {
+      return AssetImage(uri);
     } else {
       return FileImage(File(uri));
     }
diff --git a/lib/src/widgets/message/user_avatar.dart b/lib/src/widgets/message/user_avatar.dart
index 6393e178c..cf9a11b54 100644
--- a/lib/src/widgets/message/user_avatar.dart
+++ b/lib/src/widgets/message/user_avatar.dart
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'package:flutter_chat_types/flutter_chat_types.dart' as types;
 import '../../models/bubble_rtl_alignment.dart';
 import '../../util.dart';
 import '../state/inherited_chat_theme.dart';
+import '../../conditional/conditional.dart';
 
 /// Renders user's avatar or initials next to a message.
 class UserAvatar extends StatelessWidget {
@@ -50,7 +51,10 @@ class UserAvatar extends StatelessWidget {
                   .userAvatarImageBackgroundColor
               : color,
           backgroundImage: hasImage
-              ? NetworkImage(author.imageUrl!, headers: imageHeaders)
+              ? Conditional().getProvider(
+                  author.imageUrl!,
+                  headers: imageHeaders,
+                )
               : null,
           radius: 16,
           child: !hasImage