diff --git a/isso/js/app/isso.js b/isso/js/app/isso.js
index 6d44cb0..877c692 100644
--- a/isso/js/app/isso.js
+++ b/isso/js/app/isso.js
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ define(["behave", "app/text/html", "app/dom", "app/utils", "app/api", "app/marku
 
         var el = $.htmlify(Mark.up(templates["postbox"]));
 
-        // add a blank identicon to not waste CPU cycles
-        // XXX show a space invader instead :>
+        // add a default identicon to not waste CPU cycles
         $(".avatar > canvas", el).replace(lib.identicons.blank(48, 48));
 
         // on text area focus, generate identicon from IP address
diff --git a/isso/js/app/lib/identicons.js b/isso/js/app/lib/identicons.js
index 118f04c..5ab0423 100644
--- a/isso/js/app/lib/identicons.js
+++ b/isso/js/app/lib/identicons.js
@@ -108,8 +108,16 @@ define(["q"], function(Q) {
     };
 
     var generateBlank = function(height, width) {
-        var el = generateIdenticon(null, height, width);
+
+        var blank = parseInt([
+            0, 1, 1, 1, 1,
+            1, 0, 1, 1, 0,
+            1, 1, 1, 1, 1, /* purple: */ 0, 1, 0
+        ].join(""), 2).toString(16);
+
+        var el = generateIdenticon(blank, height, width);
         el.className = "blank";
+
         return el;
     };