diff --git a/lib/gravatar/utils.py b/lib/gravatar/utils.py
index be3bd238..08d789fb 100644
--- a/lib/gravatar/utils.py
+++ b/lib/gravatar/utils.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import hashlib
 
 # Third Party (PyPI) Imports
+import requests
 import six.moves.urllib as urllib
 
 # Django Imports
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@
 # http://en.gravatar.com/site/implement/images/
 GRAVATAR_URL_PROTOCOL = 'https' if settings.SECURE_SSL_HOST or settings.SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT else 'http'
 GRAVATAR_URL_PREFIX = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_URL_PREFIX', '%s://%s' % (GRAVATAR_URL_PROTOCOL, 'www.gravatar.com',))
-GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE', 'mm')
+GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE = getattr(settings, 'GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE', 'mp')
 GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE = 80
 
 
@@ -24,7 +25,11 @@ def get_gravatar_hash(email):
     return gravatar_hash
 
 
-def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE):
+def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE):
+    return build_gravatar_url_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE)
+
+
+def build_gravatar_url_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE, default=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE):
     """
     https://en.gravatar.com/site/implement/images/
     """
@@ -40,7 +45,14 @@ def get_gravatar_for_email(email, size=GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_SIZE):
     url += urllib.parse.urlencode(
         {
             's': str(size),
-            'default': GRAVATAR_DEFAULT_IMAGE,
+            'default': default,
         }
     )
     return url
+
+
+def has_gravatar(email):
+    url = get_gravatar_for_email(email, default='404')
+    response = requests.get(url)
+    has_gravatar = response.status_code == 200
+    return has_gravatar