diff --git a/src/lib/system/Body.svelte b/src/lib/system/Body.svelte
index 382f950d..cd5ce406 100644
--- a/src/lib/system/Body.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/system/Body.svelte
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
     <b>Description:</b><br />
     {@html htmlDescription}
 </div>
-{#if user.banner && settings && settings.appearance.banner_bottom}
+{#if (user.banner && settings && settings.appearance.banner_bottom) || !settings}
 <img src={user.banner} alt="your system banner" class="w-100 mb-3 rounded" style="max-height: 12em; object-fit: cover"/>
 {/if}
 {#if !isPublic}
diff --git a/src/pages/Dash.svelte b/src/pages/Dash.svelte
index 690b6497..25d3d0b1 100644
--- a/src/pages/Dash.svelte
+++ b/src/pages/Dash.svelte
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 </script>
 
 <!-- display the banner if there's a banner set, and if the current settings allow for it-->
-{#if user && user.banner && settings && settings.appearance.banner_top}
+{#if user && user.banner && ((settings && settings.appearance.banner_top) || !settings)}
 <div class="banner" style="background-image: url({user.banner})" />
 {/if}
 <Container>