diff --git a/app/helpers/avatars_helper.rb b/app/helpers/avatars_helper.rb
index a4c226a6aad..be11d453898 100644
--- a/app/helpers/avatars_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/avatars_helper.rb
@@ -13,22 +13,29 @@ module AvatarsHelper
     user_name = options[:user].try(:name) || options[:user_name]
     avatar_url = options[:url] || avatar_icon(options[:user] || options[:user_email], avatar_size)
     has_tooltip = options[:has_tooltip].nil? ? true : options[:has_tooltip]
-    data_attributes = {}
+    data_attributes = options[:data] || {}
     css_class = %W[avatar s#{avatar_size}].push(*options[:css_class])
 
     if has_tooltip
       css_class.push('has-tooltip')
-      data_attributes = { container: 'body' }
+      data_attributes[:container] = 'body'
     end
 
-    image_tag(
-      avatar_url,
+    if options[:lazy]
+      css_class << 'lazy'
+      data_attributes[:src] = avatar_url
+      avatar_url = LazyImageTagHelper.placeholder_image
+    end
+
+    image_options = {
+      alt:   "#{user_name}'s avatar",
+      src:   avatar_url,
+      data:  data_attributes,
       class: css_class,
-      alt: "#{user_name}'s avatar",
-      title: user_name,
-      data: data_attributes,
-      lazy: true
-    )
+      title: user_name
+    }
+
+    tag(:img, image_options)
   end
 
   def user_avatar(options = {})