diff --git a/src/contact.rs b/src/contact.rs
index 3bb0dca7a..df0c76970 100644
--- a/src/contact.rs
+++ b/src/contact.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::events::Event;
 use crate::key::*;
 use crate::login_param::LoginParam;
 use crate::message::{MessageState, MsgId};
+use crate::mimeparser::ImageAction;
 use crate::param::*;
 use crate::peerstate::*;
 use crate::sql;
@@ -965,17 +966,26 @@ fn set_block_contact(context: &Context, contact_id: u32, new_blocking: bool) {
 pub fn set_profile_image(
     context: &Context,
     contact_id: u32,
-    profile_image: Option<String>,
+    profile_image: ImageAction,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     // the given profile image is expected to be already in the blob directory
     // as profile images can be set only by receiving messages, this should be always the case, however.
     let mut contact = Contact::load_from_db(context, contact_id)?;
-    match profile_image {
-        Some(profile_image) => contact.param.set(Param::ProfileImage, profile_image),
-        None => contact.param.remove(Param::ProfileImage),
+    let changed = match profile_image {
+        ImageAction::Change(profile_image) => {
+            contact.param.set(Param::ProfileImage, profile_image);
+            true
+        }
+        ImageAction::Delete => {
+            contact.param.remove(Param::ProfileImage);
+            true
+        }
+        ImageAction::None => false,
     };
-    contact.update_param(context)?;
-    context.call_cb(Event::ContactsChanged(Some(contact_id)));
+    if changed {
+        contact.update_param(context)?;
+        context.call_cb(Event::ContactsChanged(Some(contact_id)));
+    }
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dc_receive_imf.rs b/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
index ae687705b..ddb3c1e86 100644
--- a/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
+++ b/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ pub fn dc_receive_imf(
         );
     }
 
-    if let Some(profile_image) = mime_parser.profile_image {
-        match contact::set_profile_image(&context, from_id, profile_image) {
+    if mime_parser.profile_image != ImageAction::None {
+        match contact::set_profile_image(&context, from_id, mime_parser.profile_image) {
             Ok(()) => {
                 context.call_cb(Event::ChatModified(chat_id));
                 true
diff --git a/src/mimeparser.rs b/src/mimeparser.rs
index 6ba76305f..ea4a05bc8 100644
--- a/src/mimeparser.rs
+++ b/src/mimeparser.rs
@@ -37,12 +37,19 @@ pub struct MimeParser<'a> {
     pub is_system_message: SystemMessage,
     pub location_kml: Option<location::Kml>,
     pub message_kml: Option<location::Kml>,
-    pub profile_image: Option<Option<String>>,
+    pub profile_image: ImageAction,
     reports: Vec<Report>,
     mdns_enabled: bool,
     parsed_protected_headers: bool,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ImageAction {
+    None,
+    Delete,
+    Change(String),
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, FromPrimitive, ToPrimitive, ToSql, FromSql)]
 #[repr(i32)]
 pub enum SystemMessage {
@@ -84,7 +91,7 @@ impl<'a> MimeParser<'a> {
             is_system_message: SystemMessage::Unknown,
             location_kml: None,
             message_kml: None,
-            profile_image: None,
+            profile_image: ImageAction::None,
             mdns_enabled,
             parsed_protected_headers: false,
         };
@@ -195,7 +202,7 @@ impl<'a> MimeParser<'a> {
 
         if let Some(header_value) = self.get(HeaderDef::ChatProfileImage) {
             if header_value == "0" {
-                self.profile_image = Some(None);
+                self.profile_image = ImageAction::Delete;
             } else {
                 let mut i = 0;
                 while i != self.parts.len() {
@@ -203,7 +210,7 @@ impl<'a> MimeParser<'a> {
                     if let Some(part_filename) = &part.org_filename {
                         if part_filename == header_value {
                             if let Some(blob) = part.param.get(Param::File) {
-                                self.profile_image = Some(Some(blob.to_string()));
+                                self.profile_image = ImageAction::Change(blob.to_string());
                                 self.parts.remove(i);
                             }
                             break;
@@ -1157,16 +1164,19 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_mimeparser_with_profile_image() {
         let t = dummy_context();
 
+        let raw = include_bytes!("../test-data/message/mail_attach_txt.eml");
+        let mimeparser = MimeParser::from_bytes(&t.ctx, &raw[..]).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(mimeparser.profile_image, ImageAction::None);
+
         let raw = include_bytes!("../test-data/message/mail_with_profile_image.eml");
         let mimeparser = MimeParser::from_bytes(&t.ctx, &raw[..]).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(mimeparser.parts.len(), 1);
-        assert!(mimeparser.profile_image.is_some());
-        assert!(mimeparser.profile_image.unwrap().is_some());
+        assert_ne!(mimeparser.profile_image, ImageAction::None);
+        assert_ne!(mimeparser.profile_image, ImageAction::Delete);
 
         let raw = include_bytes!("../test-data/message/mail_with_profile_image_deleted.eml");
         let mimeparser = MimeParser::from_bytes(&t.ctx, &raw[..]).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(mimeparser.parts.len(), 1);
-        assert!(mimeparser.profile_image.is_some());
-        assert!(mimeparser.profile_image.unwrap().is_none());
+        assert_eq!(mimeparser.profile_image, ImageAction::Delete);
     }
 }