diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index 47af6d586c..b3b4793b39 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime, Transmitter* transmitter) {
     _skeletonModel.simulate(deltaTime);
     _head.setBodyRotation(glm::vec3(_bodyPitch, _bodyYaw, _bodyRoll));
     glm::vec3 headPosition;
-    _skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition);
+    if (!_skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition)) {
+        headPosition = _position;
+    }
     _head.setPosition(headPosition);
     _head.setScale(_scale);
     _head.setSkinColor(glm::vec3(SKIN_COLOR[0], SKIN_COLOR[1], SKIN_COLOR[2]));
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
index 8f285cfd77..5471f8554a 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
@@ -222,8 +222,9 @@ void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine) {
     calculateGeometry();
     
     // the blend face may have custom eye meshes
-    _faceModel.getEyePositions(_leftEyePosition, _rightEyePosition);
-
+    if (!_faceModel.getEyePositions(_leftEyePosition, _rightEyePosition)) {
+        _leftEyePosition = _rightEyePosition = getPosition();
+    }
 }
 
 void Head::calculateGeometry() {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 91b88e427c..e7dba4a4c7 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -282,7 +282,9 @@ void MyAvatar::simulate(float deltaTime, Transmitter* transmitter) {
     _skeletonModel.simulate(deltaTime);
     _head.setBodyRotation(glm::vec3(_bodyPitch, _bodyYaw, _bodyRoll));
     glm::vec3 headPosition;
-    _skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition);
+    if (!_skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition)) {
+        headPosition = _position;
+    }
     _head.setPosition(headPosition);
     _head.setScale(_scale);
     _head.setSkinColor(glm::vec3(SKIN_COLOR[0], SKIN_COLOR[1], SKIN_COLOR[2]));