diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index dc806a4115..a1ea103edb 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -1495,6 +1495,9 @@ void AvatarData::processAvatarIdentity(const Identity& identity, bool& identityC
         setAvatarEntityData(identity.avatarEntityData);
         identityChanged = true;
     }
+    // flag this avatar as non-stale by updating _averageBytesReceived
+    const int BOGUS_NUM_BYTES = 1;
+    _averageBytesReceived.updateAverage(BOGUS_NUM_BYTES);
 }
 
 QByteArray AvatarData::identityByteArray() const {