diff --git a/modules/widgets/top-posts.php b/modules/widgets/top-posts.php
index cdcd59d1cce98..a4140e435d8cf 100644
--- a/modules/widgets/top-posts.php
+++ b/modules/widgets/top-posts.php
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 					$image         = Jetpack_PostImages::get_image(
 						$post['post_id'],
 						array(
-							'fallback_to_avatars' => true,
+							'fallback_to_avatars' => (bool) $get_image_options['fallback_to_avatars'],
 							'width'               => (int) $width,
 							'height'              => (int) $height,
 							'avatar_size'         => (int) $get_image_options['avatar_size'],