Index: pluggable.php
===================================================================
--- pluggable.php	(revision 23447)
+++ pluggable.php	(working copy)
@@ -1586,7 +1586,7 @@
  * @param string $alt Alternative text to use in image tag. Defaults to blank
  * @return string <img> tag for the user's avatar
 */
-function get_avatar( $id_or_email, $size = '96', $default = '', $alt = false ) {
+function get_avatar( $id_or_email, $size = '96', $default = '', $alt = false, $url = false ) {
 	if ( ! get_option('show_avatars') )
 		return false;
 
@@ -1665,12 +1665,18 @@
 		if ( !empty( $rating ) )
 			$out .= "&amp;r={$rating}";
 
-		$avatar = "<img alt='{$safe_alt}' src='{$out}' class='avatar avatar-{$size} photo' height='{$size}' width='{$size}' />";
+        if ( $url )
+            $avatar = $out;
+        else
+		    $avatar = "<img alt='{$safe_alt}' src='{$out}' class='avatar avatar-{$size} photo' height='{$size}' width='{$size}' />";
 	} else {
-		$avatar = "<img alt='{$safe_alt}' src='{$default}' class='avatar avatar-{$size} photo avatar-default' height='{$size}' width='{$size}' />";
+        if ( $url )
+            $avatar = $default;
+        else
+		    $avatar = "<img alt='{$safe_alt}' src='{$default}' class='avatar avatar-{$size} photo avatar-default' height='{$size}' width='{$size}' />";
 	}
 
-	return apply_filters('get_avatar', $avatar, $id_or_email, $size, $default, $alt);
+	return apply_filters('get_avatar', $avatar, $id_or_email, $size, $default, $alt, $url);
 }
 endif;