diff --git a/config/site_settings.yml b/config/site_settings.yml
index fb6adceedf..1c8e9f1126 100644
--- a/config/site_settings.yml
+++ b/config/site_settings.yml
@@ -575,6 +575,7 @@ files:
   external_system_avatars_enabled:
     default: false
     client: true
+    shadowed_by_global: true
   external_system_avatars_url:
     default: "https://avatars.discourse.org/letter/{first_letter}/{color}/{size}.png"
     client: true