diff --git a/src/profile_window.py b/src/profile_window.py
index 1e1bda1dc..4f98e20a8 100644
--- a/src/profile_window.py
+++ b/src/profile_window.py
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class ProfileWindow:
 				try:
 					pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(path_to_file)
 					# get the image at 'notification size'
-					# and use that user did not specify in ACE crazy size
+					# and hope that user did not specify in ACE crazy size
 					scaled_pixbuf = gtkgui_helpers.get_scaled_pixbuf(pixbuf,
 						'tooltip')
 				except gobject.GError, msg: # unknown format
@@ -149,13 +149,17 @@ class ProfileWindow:
 							'avatar_scaled.png')
 						scaled_pixbuf.save(path_to_file, 'png')
 						must_delete = True
-			self.dialog.destroy()
-
+			
 			fd = open(path_to_file, 'rb')
 			data = fd.read()
 			pixbuf = gtkgui_helpers.get_pixbuf_from_data(data)
-			# rescale it
-			pixbuf = gtkgui_helpers.get_scaled_pixbuf(pixbuf, 'vcard')
+			try:			
+				# rescale it
+				pixbuf = gtkgui_helpers.get_scaled_pixbuf(pixbuf, 'vcard')
+			except AttributeError: # unknown format
+				dialogs.ErrorDialog(_('Could not load image'), msg)
+				return
+			self.dialog.destroy()
 			button = self.xml.get_widget('PHOTO_button')
 			image = button.get_image()
 			image.set_from_pixbuf(pixbuf)
diff --git a/src/vcard.py b/src/vcard.py
index d98e58eb8..51113854f 100644
--- a/src/vcard.py
+++ b/src/vcard.py
@@ -139,16 +139,17 @@ class VcardWindow:
 			if invalid_file:
 				dialogs.ErrorDialog(_('Could not load image'), msg)
 				return
-			pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(path_to_file)
-			if filesize > 16384: # 16 kb
-				try:
+			try:
+				pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(path_to_file)
+				if filesize > 16384: # 16 kb
 					# get the image at 'notification size'
-					# and use that user did not specify in ACE crazy size
+					# and hope that user did not specify in ACE crazy size
 					pixbuf = gtkgui_helpers.get_scaled_pixbuf(pixbuf, 'tooltip')
-				except gobject.GError, msg: # unknown format
-					# msg should be string, not object instance
-					msg = str(msg)
-					invalid_file = True
+			except gobject.GError, msg: # unknown format
+				# msg should be string, not object instance
+				msg = str(msg)
+				dialogs.ErrorDialog(_('Could not load image'), msg)
+				return
 			puny_jid = helpers.sanitize_filename(self.contact.jid)
 			path_to_file = os.path.join(gajim.AVATAR_PATH, puny_jid) + '_local.png'
 			pixbuf.save(path_to_file, 'png')