diff --git a/server/player_service.py b/server/player_service.py
index a0f28844a..7a7a568d4 100644
--- a/server/player_service.py
+++ b/server/player_service.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ClassVar, Optional, ValuesView
 
 import aiocron
-from sqlalchemy import and_, or_, select
+from sqlalchemy import and_, func, or_, select
 
 import server.metrics as metrics
 from server.config import config
@@ -178,6 +178,28 @@ async def _fetch_player_avatar(
         player.avatar = None
         return None
 
+    async def _sync_legacy_avatar_selection(self, player_id: int, conn) -> None:
+        """
+        Reconcile the deprecated `avatars.selected` flag with the authoritative
+        `login.avatar_id`: mark only the granted row matching `avatar_id` as
+        selected (all of them deselected when `avatar_id` is null). This keeps the
+        legacy fallback consistent so an explicit clear is not resurrected.
+        """
+        authoritative_avatar_id = (
+            select(login.c.avatar_id)
+            .where(login.c.id == player_id)
+            .scalar_subquery()
+        )
+        await conn.execute(
+            avatars.update()
+            .where(avatars.c.idUser == player_id)
+            .values(
+                selected=func.coalesce(
+                    avatars.c.idAvatar == authoritative_avatar_id, False
+                )
+            )
+        )
+
     async def refresh_player_avatar(self, player_id: int) -> bool:
         """
         Re-read avatar for one player and mark them dirty.
@@ -189,6 +211,12 @@ async def refresh_player_avatar(self, player_id: int) -> bool:
         if player is None:
             return False
         async with self._db.acquire() as conn:
+            # An avatar-update event means the API (the authoritative writer of
+            # `login.avatar_id`) changed this player's selection, so reconcile the
+            # deprecated `avatars.selected` flag before reading. Otherwise a cleared
+            # avatar (`avatar_id` set to null) would be undone by the legacy
+            # fallback in `_avatar_grant_join_onclause`.
+            await self._sync_legacy_avatar_selection(player_id, conn)
             avatar_id = await self._fetch_player_avatar(player, conn)
         avatar_tooltip = player.avatar["tooltip"] if player.avatar else None
         self._logger.info(
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_player_service.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_player_service.py
index b46c63950..c2ae42ce0 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_player_service.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_player_service.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
+from sqlalchemy import select
+
+from server.db.models import avatars, login
 from server.rating import RatingType
 
 
@@ -67,18 +70,49 @@ async def test_fetch_player_data_non_existent(player_factory, player_service):
 async def test_refresh_player_avatar_connected(
     player_factory, player_service
 ):
-    player = player_factory(player_id=50)
+    # Player 51 owns avatars 1 (QAI) and 2 (UEF); make 1 the authoritative
+    # selection via login.avatar_id while the legacy flag still points at 2.
+    player = player_factory(player_id=51)
     player.avatar = None  # simulate stale (e.g. just connected)
-    player_service[50] = player
+    player_service[51] = player
+    async with player_service._db.acquire() as conn:
+        await conn.execute(login.update().where(login.c.id == 51).values(avatar_id=1))
 
-    refreshed = await player_service.refresh_player_avatar(50)
+    refreshed = await player_service.refresh_player_avatar(51)
 
     assert refreshed is True
     assert player.avatar == {
-        "url": "https://content.faforever.com/faf/avatars/UEF.png",
-        "tooltip": "UEF",
+        "url": "https://content.faforever.com/faf/avatars/qai2.png",
+        "tooltip": "QAI",
     }
     assert player in player_service._dirty_players
+    # the legacy `selected` flag is reconciled to the authoritative avatar
+    async with player_service._db.acquire() as conn:
+        result = await conn.execute(
+            select(avatars.c.idAvatar, avatars.c.selected).where(avatars.c.idUser == 51)
+        )
+        selected = {row.idAvatar: bool(row.selected) for row in result}
+    assert selected == {1: True, 2: False}
+
+
+async def test_refresh_player_avatar_clears_legacy_fallback(
+    player_factory, player_service
+):
+    # Player 50 has a legacy selected avatar but no authoritative login.avatar_id,
+    # which represents an explicit clear via the API. The refresh must not let the
+    # legacy fallback resurrect it, and must clean the flag up.
+    player = player_factory(player_id=50)
+    player_service[50] = player
+
+    refreshed = await player_service.refresh_player_avatar(50)
+
+    assert refreshed is True
+    assert player.avatar is None
+    async with player_service._db.acquire() as conn:
+        result = await conn.execute(
+            select(avatars.c.selected).where(avatars.c.idUser == 50)
+        )
+        assert all(not row.selected for row in result)
 
 
 async def test_refresh_player_avatar_not_connected(player_service):