diff --git a/core/server/models/user.js b/core/server/models/user.js
index aeed9437d1..5fa3947272 100644
--- a/core/server/models/user.js
+++ b/core/server/models/user.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ var _              = require('lodash'),
     errors         = require('../errors'),
     bcrypt         = require('bcryptjs'),
     ghostBookshelf = require('./base'),
-    http           = require('http'),
     crypto         = require('crypto'),
     validator      = require('validator'),
+    request        = require('request'),
     validation     = require('../data/validation'),
     config         = require('../config'),
 
@@ -845,14 +845,16 @@ User = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
                 resolve(userData);
             }
 
-            http.get('http:' + gravatarUrl, function (res) {
-                if (res.statusCode !== 404) {
+            request({url: gravatarUrl, timeout: 2000}, function (err, response) {
+                if (err) {
+                    // just resolve with no image url
+                    resolve(userData);
+                }
+
+                if (response.statusCode !== 404) {
                     userData.image = gravatarUrl;
                 }
 
-                resolve(userData);
-            }).on('error', function () {
-                // Error making request just continue.
                 resolve(userData);
             });
         });
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 351650bd82..b7873f9d96 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
         "passport": "0.2.0",
         "passport-http-bearer": "1.0.1",
         "passport-oauth2-client-password": "0.1.1",
+        "request": "2.47.0",
         "rss": "1.0.0",
         "semver": "2.2.1",
         "showdown": "https://github.com/ErisDS/showdown/archive/v0.3.2-ghost.tar.gz",
@@ -94,7 +95,6 @@
         "matchdep": "~0.3.0",
         "mocha": "~1.21.4",
         "nock": "0.47.0",
-        "request": "~2.42.0",
         "require-dir": "~0.1.0",
         "rewire": "~2.1.0",
         "should": "~4.0.4",