diff --git a/backend/routes/profiles.py b/backend/routes/profiles.py
index 054fe4aa..429572f1 100644
--- a/backend/routes/profiles.py
+++ b/backend/routes/profiles.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ async def upload_profile_avatar(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ):
     """Upload or update avatar image for a profile."""
-    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=Path(file.filename).suffix) as tmp:
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=Path(file.filename or "").suffix) as tmp:
         content = await file.read()
         tmp.write(content)
         tmp_path = tmp.name