diff --git a/Library/Phalcon/Avatar/Gravatar.php b/Library/Phalcon/Avatar/Gravatar.php
index 703635338..f7bda45d5 100644
--- a/Library/Phalcon/Avatar/Gravatar.php
+++ b/Library/Phalcon/Avatar/Gravatar.php
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ public function setDefaultImage($image)
         $default = strtolower(trim($image));
 
         if (!isset($this->validDefaults[$default])) {
-            if (!filter_var($image, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL, FILTER_FLAG_HOST_REQUIRED)) {
+            if (!filter_var($image, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL)) {
                 throw new InvalidArgumentException(
                     'The default image specified is not a recognized gravatar "default" and is not a valid URL'
                 );