diff --git a/lib/routes/avatars.js b/lib/routes/avatars.js
index 39e140e..eb54f8d 100644
--- a/lib/routes/avatars.js
+++ b/lib/routes/avatars.js
@@ -4,16 +4,32 @@ var config = require("../config");
 var skins = require("../skins");
 var cache = require("../cache");
 var path = require("path");
+var url = require("url");
 
-function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, err, callback) {
-  if (def && def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
-    callback({
-      status: img_status,
-      redirect: def,
-      err: err
-    });
+function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
+  def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
+    if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
+      // clean up the old URL to match new image
+      var parsed = req.url;
+      delete parsed.query["default"];
+      delete parsed.search;
+      parsed.pathname = parsed.pathname.replace(userId, def);
+      var newUrl = url.format(parsed);
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: newUrl,
+        err: err
+      });
+    } else {
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: def,
+        err: err
+      });
+    }
   } else {
-    def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+    // handle steve and alex
     skins.resize_img(path.join(__dirname, "..", "public", "images", def + ".png"), size, function(resize_err, image) {
       callback({
         status: img_status,
@@ -80,10 +96,10 @@ module.exports = function(req, callback) {
           hash: hash
         });
       } else {
-        handle_default(status, userId, size, def, err, callback);
+        handle_default(status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback);
       }
     });
-  } catch(e) {
+  } catch (e) {
     logging.error(req.id, "error:", e.stack);
     handle_default(-1, userId, size, def, e, callback);
   }
diff --git a/lib/routes/renders.js b/lib/routes/renders.js
index 04c8048..ee4a6c2 100644
--- a/lib/routes/renders.js
+++ b/lib/routes/renders.js
@@ -11,17 +11,30 @@ var fs = require("fs");
 // helmet is query param
 // TODO: The Type logic should be two separate GET functions once response methods are extracted
 
-// default alex/steve images can be rendered, but
-// custom images will not be
-function handle_default(rid, scale, helm, body, img_status, userId, size, def, err, callback) {
-  if (def && def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
-    callback({
-      status: img_status,
-      redirect: def,
-      err: err
-    });
+function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
+  def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
+    if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
+      // clean up the old URL to match new image
+      var parsed = req.url;
+      delete parsed.query["default"];
+      delete parsed.search;
+      parsed.pathname = parsed.pathname.replace(userId, def);
+      var newUrl = url.format(parsed);
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: newUrl,
+        err: err
+      });
+    } else {
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: def,
+        err: err
+      });
+    }
   } else {
-    def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+    // handle steve and alex
     fs.readFile(path.join(__dirname, "..", "public", "images", def + "_skin.png"), function (fs_err, buf) {
       // we render the default skins, but not custom images
       renders.draw_model(rid, buf, scale, helm, body, function(render_err, def_img) {
diff --git a/lib/routes/skins.js b/lib/routes/skins.js
index 0d056ea..6c76044 100644
--- a/lib/routes/skins.js
+++ b/lib/routes/skins.js
@@ -4,15 +4,30 @@ var skins = require("../skins");
 var path = require("path");
 var lwip = require("lwip");
 
-function handle_default(img_status, userId, def, err, callback) {
-  if (def && def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
-    callback({
-      status: img_status,
-      redirect: def,
-      err: err
-    });
+function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
+  def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "alex") {
+    if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
+      // clean up the old URL to match new image
+      var parsed = req.url;
+      delete parsed.query["default"];
+      delete parsed.search;
+      parsed.pathname = parsed.pathname.replace(userId, def);
+      var newUrl = url.format(parsed);
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: newUrl,
+        err: err
+      });
+    } else {
+      callback({
+        status: img_status,
+        redirect: def,
+        err: err
+      });
+    }
   } else {
-    def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
+    // handle steve and alex
     lwip.open(path.join(__dirname, "..", "public", "images", def + "_skin.png"), function(lwip_err, image) {
       if (image) {
         image.toBuffer("png", function(buf_err, buffer) {
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 2769732..597f6a3 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -342,17 +342,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 1623808067
       },
-      "avatar with not existing username": {
+      "avatar with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2416827277, 1243826040]
       },
-      "avatar with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "avatar with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [862751081, 809395677]
       },
-      "avatar with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "avatar with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -362,17 +362,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 646871998
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing username": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2416827277, 1243826040]
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [862751081, 809395677]
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/0?size=16&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -382,17 +382,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 1623808067
       },
-      "avatar with not existing uuid": {
+      "avatar with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2416827277, 1243826040]
       },
-      "avatar with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "avatar with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [862751081, 809395677]
       },
-      "avatar with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "avatar with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -402,17 +402,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 646871998
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing uuid": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2416827277, 1243826040]
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [862751081, 809395677]
       },
-      "helm avatar with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "helm avatar with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/avatars/00000000000000000000000000000000?size=16&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -422,11 +422,11 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"3f688e0e69"',
         crc32: [989800403, 1901140141]
       },
-      "cape with not existing username": {
+      "cape with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/capes/0",
         crc32: 0
       },
-      "cape with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "cape with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/capes/0?default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -436,11 +436,11 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"3f688e0e69"',
         crc32: [989800403, 1901140141]
       },
-      "cape with not existing uuid": {
+      "cape with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/capes/00000000000000000000000000000000",
         crc32: 0
       },
-      "cape with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "cape with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/capes/00000000000000000000000000000000?default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -450,17 +450,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 26500336
       },
-      "skin with not existing username": {
+      "skin with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/0",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: 981937087
       },
-      "skin with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "skin with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/0?default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: 2298915739
       },
-      "skin with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "skin with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/0?default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -470,17 +470,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: 26500336
       },
-      "skin with not existing uuid": {
+      "skin with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/00000000000000000000000000000000",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: 981937087
       },
-      "skin with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "skin with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/00000000000000000000000000000000?default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: 2298915739
       },
-      "skin with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "skin with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/skins/00000000000000000000000000000000?default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -490,17 +490,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [353633671, 370672768]
       },
-      "head render with not existing username": {
+      "head render with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [883439147, 433083528]
       },
-      "head render with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "head render with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [1240086237, 1108800327]
       },
-      "head render with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "head render with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -510,17 +510,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [3456497067, 3490318764]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing username": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [1858563554, 2647471936]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [2963161105, 1769904825]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/0?scale=2&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -530,17 +530,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [353633671, 370672768]
       },
-      "head render with not existing uuid": {
+      "head render with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [883439147, 433083528]
       },
-      "head render with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "head render with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [1240086237, 1108800327]
       },
-      "head render with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "head render with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -550,17 +550,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [3456497067, 3490318764]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing uuid": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [1858563554, 2647471936]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [2963161105, 1769904825]
       },
-      "helm head render with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "helm head render with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/head/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -570,17 +570,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [1291941229, 2628108474]
       },
-      "body render with not existing username": {
+      "body render with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2652947188, 2115706574]
       },
-      "body render with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "body render with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [407932087, 2516216042]
       },
-      "body render with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "body render with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -590,17 +590,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [3556188297, 4269754007]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing username": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent username": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [272191039, 542896675]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing username defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent username defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [737759773, 66512449]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing username defaulting to url": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent username defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/0?scale=2&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -610,17 +610,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [1291941229, 2628108474]
       },
-      "body render with not existing uuid": {
+      "body render with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [2652947188, 2115706574]
       },
-      "body render with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "body render with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [407932087, 2516216042]
       },
-      "body render with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "body render with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"
@@ -630,17 +630,17 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         etag: '"a846b82963"',
         crc32: [3556188297, 4269754007]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing uuid": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent uuid": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm",
         etag: '"steve"',
         crc32: [272191039, 542896675]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing uuid defaulting to alex": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent uuid defaulting to alex": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm&default=alex",
         etag: '"alex"',
         crc32: [737759773, 66512449]
       },
-      "helm body render with not existing uuid defaulting to url": {
+      "helm body render with non-existent uuid defaulting to url": {
         url: "http://localhost:3000/renders/body/00000000000000000000000000000000?scale=2&helm&default=http://example.com",
         crc32: 0,
         redirect: "http://example.com"