diff --git a/lib/routes/avatars.js b/lib/routes/avatars.js
index 5146638..24d6497 100644
--- a/lib/routes/avatars.js
+++ b/lib/routes/avatars.js
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ var url = require("url");
 
 function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
   def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
-  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "mhf_steve" && def !== "alex" && def !== "mhf_alex") {
+  var defname = def.toLowerCase();
+  if (defname !== "steve" && defname !== "mhf_steve" && defname !== "alex" && defname !== "mhf_alex") {
     if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
       // clean up the old URL to match new image
       var parsed = req.url;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ function handle_default(img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
     }
   } else {
     // handle steve and alex
-    def = def.toLowerCase();
+    def = defname;
     if (def.substr(0, 4) !== "mhf_") {
       def = "mhf_" + def;
     }
diff --git a/lib/routes/renders.js b/lib/routes/renders.js
index 6950a11..90ca267 100644
--- a/lib/routes/renders.js
+++ b/lib/routes/renders.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ var fs = require("fs");
 // overlay is query param
 function handle_default(rid, scale, overlay, body, img_status, userId, size, def, req, err, callback) {
   def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
-  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "mhf_steve" && def !== "alex" && def !== "mhf_alex") {
+  var defname = def.toLowerCase();
+  if (defname !== "steve" && defname !== "mhf_steve" && defname !== "alex" && defname !== "mhf_alex") {
     if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
       // clean up the old URL to match new image
       var parsed = req.url;
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ function handle_default(rid, scale, overlay, body, img_status, userId, size, def
     }
   } else {
     // handle steve and alex
-    def = def.toLowerCase();
+    def = defname;
     if (def.substr(0, 4) !== "mhf_") {
       def = "mhf_" + def;
     }
diff --git a/lib/routes/skins.js b/lib/routes/skins.js
index 19280e4..f71991a 100644
--- a/lib/routes/skins.js
+++ b/lib/routes/skins.js
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ var url = require("url");
 
 function handle_default(img_status, userId, def, req, err, callback) {
   def = def || skins.default_skin(userId);
-  if (def !== "steve" && def !== "mhf_steve" && def !== "alex" && def !== "mhf_alex") {
+  var defname = def.toLowerCase();
+  if (defname !== "steve" && defname !== "mhf_steve" && defname !== "alex" && defname !== "mhf_alex") {
     if (helpers.id_valid(def)) {
       // clean up the old URL to match new image
       var parsed = req.url;
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ function handle_default(img_status, userId, def, req, err, callback) {
     }
   } else {
     // handle steve and alex
-    def = def.toLowerCase();
+    def = defname;
     if (def.substr(0, 4) !== "mhf_") {
       def = "mhf_" + def;
     }