diff --git a/src/misc/DefaultAvatar/DefaultAvatar.js b/src/misc/DefaultAvatar/DefaultAvatar.js
index f09eb3f5..bd0b01d6 100644
--- a/src/misc/DefaultAvatar/DefaultAvatar.js
+++ b/src/misc/DefaultAvatar/DefaultAvatar.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const useStyles = makeStyles((theme) => ({
 
 export const DefaultAvatar = ({ userName, size = 24, variant = 'circular' }) => {
   const avatarBackgroundColor = stringToColor(userName);
-  const letter = userName.charAt(0).toUpperCase();
+  const letter = String.fromCodePoint(userName.codePointAt(0)).toUpperCase();
 
   const classes = useStyles({ avatarBackgroundColor, size });