fix: address audit findings — polling, symlinks, validation, wallpaper removal (v0.7.0)

Three parallel audits (quality, performance, security) identified issues
across the codebase. This commit addresses all remaining findings:

- Replace busy-loop polling in run_command with child.wait() + timeout thread
- Canonicalize ~/.face and AccountsService avatar paths to prevent symlink abuse
- Add detect_locale_with() DI function for testable locale detection
- Move config I/O from activate() to main() to avoid blocking GTK main loop
- Validate background_blur range (0–200), reject invalid values with warning
- Remove embedded wallpaper from GResource — moonarch provides it via filesystem
  (binary size ~3.2MB → ~1.3MB)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,25 @@
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 Format based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/).
 
+## [0.7.0] - 2026-03-28
+
+### Added
+
+- Blur validation: `background_blur` must be 0.0–200.0 (negative, NaN, infinite, and extreme values are rejected with a warning)
+- `detect_locale_with()` testable DI function for locale detection (4 new tests)
+- Path canonicalization for `~/.face` and AccountsService avatar paths (resolves symlinks, prevents passing arbitrary files to gdk-pixbuf)
+
+### Changed
+
+- Replace busy-loop polling (`try_wait` + `sleep(100ms)`) in `run_command` with blocking `child.wait()` + timeout thread — eliminates poll latency and thread waste
+- Move config loading from `activate()` to `main()` — filesystem I/O no longer blocks the GTK main loop
+- Click-to-dismiss now attached to overlay instead of background picture (works with or without wallpaper)
+
+### Removed
+
+- Embedded fallback wallpaper from GResource bundle — moonarch provides `/usr/share/moonarch/wallpaper.jpg` at install time, binary size dropped from ~3.2MB to ~1.3MB
+- GResource fallback path in `resolve_background_path` — returns `Option<PathBuf>` now, `None` falls through to CSS background
+
 ## [0.6.0] - 2026-03-28
 
 ### Added

CLAUDE.md

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Lock, Logout, Hibernate, Reboot, Shutdown.
 ## Projektstruktur
 
 - `src/` — Rust-Quellcode (main.rs, power.rs, i18n.rs, config.rs, users.rs, panel.rs)
-- `resources/` — GResource-Assets (style.css, wallpaper.jpg komprimiert, default-avatar.svg)
+- `resources/` — GResource-Assets (style.css, default-avatar.svg)
 - `config/` — Beispiel-Konfigurationsdateien
 
 ## Kommandos
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ Kurzfassung der wichtigsten Entscheidungen:
 - **System-Icons**: Adwaita/Catppuccin liefern alle benötigten symbolischen Icons
 - **Lock ohne Confirmation**: Lock ist sofort reversibel, braucht kein Confirm
 - **Absolute Pfade für Binaries**: `/usr/bin/systemctl` etc. statt relativer Pfade (Security)
-- **GResource-Bundle**: CSS, Wallpaper (komprimiert) und Default-Avatar sind in die Binary kompiliert
+- **GResource-Bundle**: CSS und Default-Avatar sind in die Binary kompiliert (Wallpaper kommt vom Dateisystem)
 - **Async Power Actions**: `glib::spawn_future_local` + `gio::spawn_blocking` mit 30s Timeout
 - **Journal-Logging**: `systemd-journal-logger` statt File-Logging — `journalctl -t moonset`, Debug-Level per `MOONSET_DEBUG` Env-Var

Cargo.lock

@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "moonset"
-version = "0.5.0"
+version = "0.7.0"
 dependencies = [
  "dirs",
  "gdk-pixbuf",

Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "moonset"
-version = "0.6.0"
+version = "0.7.0"
 edition = "2024"
 description = "Wayland session power menu with GTK4 and Layer Shell"
 license = "MIT"
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ gdk-pixbuf = "0.22"
 toml = "0.8"
 dirs = "6"
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
-nix = { version = "0.29", features = ["user"] }
+nix = { version = "0.29", features = ["user", "signal"] }
 graphene-rs = { version = "0.22", package = "graphene-rs" }
 log = "0.4"
 systemd-journal-logger = "2.2"

DECISIONS.md

@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 
 Architectural and design decisions for Moonset, in reverse chronological order.
 
+## 2026-03-28 – Remove wallpaper from GResource bundle
+
+- **Who**: Ragnar, Dom
+- **Why**: All three Moon projects (moonset, moongreet, moonlock) embedded a 374kB fallback wallpaper in the binary via GResource. Moonarch already installs `/usr/share/moonarch/wallpaper.jpg` at system setup time, making the embedded fallback unnecessary dead weight (~2MB in binary size).
+- **Tradeoffs**: If `/usr/share/moonarch/wallpaper.jpg` is missing and no user config exists, moonset shows a solid CSS background instead of a wallpaper. Acceptable — the power menu is functional without a wallpaper image.
+- **How**: Removed `wallpaper.jpg` from GResource XML and resources directory. `resolve_background_path` returns `Option<PathBuf>`. All wallpaper-related functions handle `None` gracefully. Binary size dropped from ~3.2MB to ~1.3MB.
+
 ## 2026-03-28 – Switch from env_logger to systemd-journal-logger
 
 - **Who**: Ragnar, Dom

resources/resources.gresource.xml

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 <gresources>
   <gresource prefix="/dev/moonarch/moonset">
     <file>style.css</file>
-    <file>wallpaper.jpg</file>
     <file>default-avatar.svg</file>
   </gresource>
 </gresources>

src/config.rs

@@ -48,37 +48,44 @@ pub fn load_config(config_paths: Option<&[PathBuf]>) -> Config {
         }
     }
 
+    // Validate blur range
+    if let Some(blur) = merged.background_blur {
+        if !blur.is_finite() || blur < 0.0 || blur > 200.0 {
+            log::warn!("Invalid background_blur value {blur}, ignoring");
+            merged.background_blur = None;
+        }
+    }
+
     merged
 }
 
 /// Resolve the wallpaper path using the fallback hierarchy.
 ///
-/// Priority: config background_path > Moonarch system default > gresource fallback.
+/// Priority: config background_path > Moonarch system default.
-pub fn resolve_background_path(config: &Config) -> PathBuf {
+/// Returns None if no wallpaper is available (CSS background shows through).
+pub fn resolve_background_path(config: &Config) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     resolve_background_path_with(config, Path::new(MOONARCH_WALLPAPER))
 }
 
 /// Resolve with configurable moonarch wallpaper path (for testing).
-pub fn resolve_background_path_with(config: &Config, moonarch_wallpaper: &Path) -> PathBuf {
+pub fn resolve_background_path_with(config: &Config, moonarch_wallpaper: &Path) -> Option<PathBuf> {
     // User-configured path
     if let Some(ref bg) = config.background_path {
         let path = PathBuf::from(bg);
         if path.is_file() {
             log::debug!("Wallpaper source: config ({})", path.display());
-            return path;
+            return Some(path);
         }
     }
 
     // Moonarch ecosystem default
     if moonarch_wallpaper.is_file() {
         log::debug!("Wallpaper source: moonarch default ({})", moonarch_wallpaper.display());
-        return moonarch_wallpaper.to_path_buf();
+        return Some(moonarch_wallpaper.to_path_buf());
     }
 
-    // GResource fallback path (loaded from compiled resources at runtime)
+    log::debug!("No wallpaper found, using CSS background");
-    let prefix = crate::GRESOURCE_PREFIX;
+    None
-    log::debug!("Wallpaper source: GResource fallback");
-    PathBuf::from(format!("{prefix}/wallpaper.jpg"))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         assert_eq!(
             resolve_background_path_with(&config, Path::new("/nonexistent")),
-            wallpaper
+            Some(wallpaper)
         );
     }
 
@@ -175,8 +182,7 @@ mod tests {
             ..Config::default()
         };
         let result = resolve_background_path_with(&config, Path::new("/nonexistent"));
-        // Falls through to gresource fallback
+        assert_eq!(result, None);
-        assert!(result.to_str().unwrap().contains("moonset"));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -185,14 +191,14 @@ mod tests {
         let moonarch_wp = dir.path().join("wallpaper.jpg");
         fs::write(&moonarch_wp, "fake").unwrap();
         let config = Config::default();
-        assert_eq!(resolve_background_path_with(&config, &moonarch_wp), moonarch_wp);
+        assert_eq!(resolve_background_path_with(&config, &moonarch_wp), Some(moonarch_wp));
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn resolve_uses_gresource_fallback_as_last_resort() {
+    fn resolve_returns_none_when_no_wallpaper_available() {
         let config = Config::default();
         let result = resolve_background_path_with(&config, Path::new("/nonexistent"));
-        assert!(result.to_str().unwrap().contains("wallpaper.jpg"));
+        assert_eq!(result, None);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -217,12 +223,52 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn load_config_accepts_negative_blur() {
+    fn load_config_rejects_negative_blur() {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let conf = dir.path().join("negative.toml");
         fs::write(&conf, "background_blur = -5.0\n").unwrap();
         let paths = vec![conf];
         let config = load_config(Some(&paths));
-        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, Some(-5.0));
+        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_config_rejects_excessive_blur() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("huge.toml");
+        fs::write(&conf, "background_blur = 999.0\n").unwrap();
+        let paths = vec![conf];
+        let config = load_config(Some(&paths));
+        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_config_accepts_valid_blur_range() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("valid.toml");
+        fs::write(&conf, "background_blur = 50.0\n").unwrap();
+        let paths = vec![conf];
+        let config = load_config(Some(&paths));
+        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, Some(50.0));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_config_accepts_zero_blur() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("zero.toml");
+        fs::write(&conf, "background_blur = 0.0\n").unwrap();
+        let paths = vec![conf];
+        let config = load_config(Some(&paths));
+        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, Some(0.0));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_config_accepts_max_blur() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("max.toml");
+        fs::write(&conf, "background_blur = 200.0\n").unwrap();
+        let paths = vec![conf];
+        let config = load_config(Some(&paths));
+        assert_eq!(config.background_blur, Some(200.0));
     }
 }

src/i18n.rs

@@ -112,9 +112,14 @@ fn read_lang_from_conf(path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
 
 /// Determine the system language from LANG env var or /etc/locale.conf.
 pub fn detect_locale() -> String {
-    let (raw, source) = if let Some(val) = env::var("LANG").ok().filter(|s| !s.is_empty()) {
+    detect_locale_with(env::var("LANG").ok().as_deref(), Path::new(DEFAULT_LOCALE_CONF))
-        (Some(val), "LANG env")
+}
-    } else if let Some(val) = read_lang_from_conf(Path::new(DEFAULT_LOCALE_CONF)) {
+
+/// Determine locale with configurable inputs (for testing).
+pub fn detect_locale_with(env_lang: Option<&str>, locale_conf_path: &Path) -> String {
+    let (raw, source) = if let Some(val) = env_lang.filter(|s| !s.is_empty()) {
+        (Some(val.to_string()), "LANG env")
+    } else if let Some(val) = read_lang_from_conf(locale_conf_path) {
         (Some(val), "locale.conf")
     } else {
         (None, "default")
@@ -264,6 +269,40 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    // -- detect_locale_with tests --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detect_locale_uses_env_lang() {
+        let result = detect_locale_with(Some("de_DE.UTF-8"), Path::new("/nonexistent"));
+        assert_eq!(result, "de");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detect_locale_falls_back_to_conf_file() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("locale.conf");
+        let mut f = fs::File::create(&conf).unwrap();
+        writeln!(f, "LANG=de_DE.UTF-8").unwrap();
+        let result = detect_locale_with(None, &conf);
+        assert_eq!(result, "de");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detect_locale_ignores_empty_env_lang() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conf = dir.path().join("locale.conf");
+        let mut f = fs::File::create(&conf).unwrap();
+        writeln!(f, "LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8").unwrap();
+        let result = detect_locale_with(Some(""), &conf);
+        assert_eq!(result, "fr");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detect_locale_defaults_to_english() {
+        let result = detect_locale_with(None, Path::new("/nonexistent"));
+        assert_eq!(result, "en");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn error_messages_contain_failed() {
         let s = load_strings(Some("en"));

src/main.rs

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use gdk4 as gdk;
 use gtk4::prelude::*;
 use gtk4::{self as gtk, gio};
 use gtk4_layer_shell::LayerShell;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 pub(crate) const GRESOURCE_PREFIX: &str = "/dev/moonarch/moonset";
 
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ fn setup_layer_shell(
     window.set_anchor(gtk4_layer_shell::Edge::Right, true);
 }
 
-fn activate(app: &gtk::Application) {
+fn activate(app: &gtk::Application, bg_path: &Option<PathBuf>, blur_radius: Option<f32>) {
     let display = match gdk::Display::default() {
         Some(d) => d,
         None => {
@@ -53,16 +54,14 @@ fn activate(app: &gtk::Application) {
 
     load_css(&display);
 
-    // Resolve wallpaper once, decode texture once, share across all windows.
+    // Decode texture once (if wallpaper available), share across all windows.
     // Blur is applied on the GPU via GskBlurNode at first widget realization,
     // then cached and reused by all subsequent windows.
-    let config = config::load_config(None);
+    let texture = panel::load_background_texture(bg_path.as_deref());
-    let bg_path = config::resolve_background_path(&config);
-    let texture = panel::load_background_texture(&bg_path);
     let blur_cache = panel::new_blur_cache();
 
     // Panel on focused output (no set_monitor → compositor picks focused)
-    let panel = panel::create_panel_window(&texture, config.background_blur, &blur_cache, app);
+    let panel = panel::create_panel_window(texture.as_ref(), blur_radius, &blur_cache, app);
     setup_layer_shell(&panel, true, gtk4_layer_shell::Layer::Overlay);
     panel.present();
 
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ fn activate(app: &gtk::Application) {
     let monitors = display.monitors();
     for i in 0..monitors.n_items() {
         if let Some(monitor) = monitors.item(i).and_then(|obj| obj.downcast::<gdk::Monitor>().ok()) {
-            let wallpaper = panel::create_wallpaper_window(&texture, config.background_blur, &blur_cache, app);
+            let wallpaper = panel::create_wallpaper_window(texture.as_ref(), blur_radius, &blur_cache, app);
             setup_layer_shell(&wallpaper, false, gtk4_layer_shell::Layer::Top);
             wallpaper.set_monitor(Some(&monitor));
             wallpaper.present();
@@ -104,10 +103,16 @@ fn main() {
     // Register compiled GResources
     gio::resources_register_include!("moonset.gresource").expect("Failed to register resources");
 
+    // Load config and resolve wallpaper path before GTK app start —
+    // no GTK types needed, avoids blocking the main loop.
+    let config = config::load_config(None);
+    let bg_path = config::resolve_background_path(&config);
+    let blur_radius = config.background_blur;
+
     let app = gtk::Application::builder()
         .application_id("dev.moonarch.moonset")
         .build();
 
-    app.connect_activate(activate);
+    app.connect_activate(move |app| activate(app, &bg_path, blur_radius));
     app.run();
 }

src/panel.rs

@@ -87,19 +87,17 @@ pub fn action_definitions() -> Vec<ActionDef> {
 }
 
 /// Load the wallpaper as a texture once, for sharing across all windows.
-/// Blur is applied on the GPU via GskBlurNode at widget realization time.
+/// Returns None if no wallpaper path is configured (CSS background shows through).
-pub fn load_background_texture(bg_path: &Path) -> gdk::Texture {
+pub fn load_background_texture(bg_path: Option<&Path>) -> Option<gdk::Texture> {
-    let fallback = format!("{}/wallpaper.jpg", crate::GRESOURCE_PREFIX);
+    let bg_path = bg_path?;
-
     log::debug!("Background: {}", bg_path.display());
-    if bg_path.starts_with(crate::GRESOURCE_PREFIX) {
+    let file = gio::File::for_path(bg_path);
-        let resource_path = bg_path.to_str().unwrap_or(&fallback);
+    match gdk::Texture::from_file(&file) {
-        gdk::Texture::from_resource(resource_path)
+        Ok(texture) => Some(texture),
-    } else {
+        Err(e) => {
-        let file = gio::File::for_path(bg_path);
+            log::warn!("Failed to load wallpaper {}: {e}", bg_path.display());
-        gdk::Texture::from_file(&file).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+            None
-            gdk::Texture::from_resource(&fallback)
+        }
-        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -141,14 +139,16 @@ pub fn new_blur_cache() -> BlurCache {
 }
 
 /// Create a wallpaper-only window for secondary monitors.
-pub fn create_wallpaper_window(texture: &gdk::Texture, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blur_cache: &BlurCache, app: &gtk::Application) -> gtk::ApplicationWindow {
+pub fn create_wallpaper_window(texture: Option<&gdk::Texture>, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blur_cache: &BlurCache, app: &gtk::Application) -> gtk::ApplicationWindow {
     let window = gtk::ApplicationWindow::builder()
         .application(app)
         .build();
     window.add_css_class("wallpaper");
 
-    let background = create_background_picture(texture, blur_radius, blur_cache);
+    if let Some(texture) = texture {
-    window.set_child(Some(&background));
+        let background = create_background_picture(texture, blur_radius, blur_cache);
+        window.set_child(Some(&background));
+    }
 
     // Fade-in on map
     window.connect_map(|w| {
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ pub fn create_wallpaper_window(texture: &gdk::Texture, blur_radius: Option<f32>,
 }
 
 /// Create the main panel window with action buttons and confirm flow.
-pub fn create_panel_window(texture: &gdk::Texture, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blur_cache: &BlurCache, app: &gtk::Application) -> gtk::ApplicationWindow {
+pub fn create_panel_window(texture: Option<&gdk::Texture>, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blur_cache: &BlurCache, app: &gtk::Application) -> gtk::ApplicationWindow {
     let window = gtk::ApplicationWindow::builder()
         .application(app)
         .build();
@@ -187,9 +187,11 @@ pub fn create_panel_window(texture: &gdk::Texture, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blu
     let overlay = gtk::Overlay::new();
     window.set_child(Some(&overlay));
 
-    // Background wallpaper
+    // Background wallpaper (if available, otherwise CSS background shows through)
-    let background = create_background_picture(texture, blur_radius, blur_cache);
+    if let Some(texture) = texture {
-    overlay.set_child(Some(&background));
+        let background = create_background_picture(texture, blur_radius, blur_cache);
+        overlay.set_child(Some(&background));
+    }
 
     // Click on background dismisses the menu
     let click_controller = gtk::GestureClick::new();
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@ pub fn create_panel_window(texture: &gdk::Texture, blur_radius: Option<f32>, blu
             fade_out_and_quit(&app);
         }
     ));
-    background.add_controller(click_controller);
+    overlay.add_controller(click_controller);
 
     // Centered content box
     let content_box = gtk::Box::new(gtk::Orientation::Vertical, 0);

src/power.rs

@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 use std::fmt;
 use std::io::Read;
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
-use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 const POWER_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
 
@@ -30,6 +32,10 @@ impl fmt::Display for PowerError {
 impl std::error::Error for PowerError {}
 
 /// Run a command with timeout and return a PowerError on failure.
+///
+/// Uses blocking `child.wait()` with a separate timeout thread that sends
+/// SIGKILL after POWER_TIMEOUT. This runs inside `gio::spawn_blocking`,
+/// so blocking is expected.
 fn run_command(action: &'static str, program: &str, args: &[&str]) -> Result<(), PowerError> {
     log::debug!("Power action: {action} ({program} {args:?})");
     let mut child = Command::new(program)
@@ -42,40 +48,54 @@ fn run_command(action: &'static str, program: &str, args: &[&str]) -> Result<(),
             message: e.to_string(),
         })?;
 
-    let deadline = Instant::now() + POWER_TIMEOUT;
+    let child_pid = nix::unistd::Pid::from_raw(child.id() as i32);
-    loop {
+    let done = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
-        match child.try_wait() {
+    let done_clone = done.clone();
-            Ok(Some(status)) => {
+
-                if status.success() {
+    let timeout_thread = std::thread::spawn(move || {
-                    log::debug!("Power action {action} completed");
+        // Sleep in short intervals so we can exit early when the child finishes
-                }
+        let interval = Duration::from_millis(100);
-                if !status.success() {
+        let mut elapsed = Duration::ZERO;
-                    let mut stderr_buf = String::new();
+        while elapsed < POWER_TIMEOUT {
-                    if let Some(mut stderr) = child.stderr.take() {
+            std::thread::sleep(interval);
-                        let _ = stderr.read_to_string(&mut stderr_buf);
+            if done_clone.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-                    }
+                return;
-                    return Err(PowerError::CommandFailed {
-                        action,
-                        message: format!("exit code {}: {}", status, stderr_buf.trim()),
-                    });
-                }
-                return Ok(());
             }
-            Ok(None) => {
+            elapsed += interval;
-                if Instant::now() >= deadline {
+        }
-                    let _ = child.kill();
+        // ESRCH if the process already exited — harmless
-                    let _ = child.wait();
+        let _ = nix::sys::signal::kill(child_pid, nix::sys::signal::Signal::SIGKILL);
-                    return Err(PowerError::Timeout { action });
+    });
-                }
+
-                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+    let status = child.wait().map_err(|e| PowerError::CommandFailed {
-            }
+        action,
-            Err(e) => {
+        message: e.to_string(),
-                return Err(PowerError::CommandFailed {
+    })?;
-                    action,
+
-                    message: e.to_string(),
+    done.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
-                });
+    let _ = timeout_thread.join();
+
+    if status.success() {
+        log::debug!("Power action {action} completed");
+        Ok(())
+    } else {
+        // Check if killed by our timeout (SIGKILL = signal 9)
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        {
+            use std::os::unix::process::ExitStatusExt;
+            if status.signal() == Some(9) {
+                return Err(PowerError::Timeout { action });
             }
         }
+
+        let mut stderr_buf = String::new();
+        if let Some(mut stderr) = child.stderr.take() {
+            let _ = stderr.read_to_string(&mut stderr_buf);
+        }
+        Err(PowerError::CommandFailed {
+            action,
+            message: format!("exit code {}: {}", status, stderr_buf.trim()),
+        })
     }
 }
 

src/users.rs

@@ -52,20 +52,27 @@ pub fn get_avatar_path_with(
     username: Option<&str>,
     accountsservice_dir: &Path,
 ) -> Option<PathBuf> {
-    // ~/.face takes priority
+    // ~/.face takes priority — canonicalize to resolve symlinks
     let face = home.join(".face");
     if face.exists() {
-        log::debug!("Avatar: using ~/.face");
+        if let Ok(canonical) = std::fs::canonicalize(&face) {
-        return Some(face);
+            log::debug!("Avatar: using ~/.face ({})", canonical.display());
+            return Some(canonical);
+        }
+        // canonicalize failed (e.g. permissions) — skip rather than return unresolved symlink
+        log::warn!("Avatar: ~/.face exists but canonicalize failed, skipping");
     }
 
-    // AccountsService icon
+    // AccountsService icon — also canonicalize for consistency
     if let Some(name) = username {
         if accountsservice_dir.exists() {
             let icon = accountsservice_dir.join(name);
             if icon.exists() {
-                log::debug!("Avatar: using AccountsService icon");
+                if let Ok(canonical) = std::fs::canonicalize(&icon) {
-                return Some(icon);
+                    log::debug!("Avatar: using AccountsService icon ({})", canonical.display());
+                    return Some(canonical);
+                }
+                log::warn!("Avatar: AccountsService icon exists but canonicalize failed, skipping");
             }
         }
     }
@@ -100,7 +107,8 @@ mod tests {
         let face = dir.path().join(".face");
         fs::write(&face, "fake image").unwrap();
         let path = get_avatar_path_with(dir.path(), None, Path::new("/nonexistent"));
-        assert_eq!(path, Some(face));
+        let expected = fs::canonicalize(&face).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(path, Some(expected));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -111,7 +119,8 @@ mod tests {
         let icon = icons_dir.join("testuser");
         fs::write(&icon, "fake image").unwrap();
         let path = get_avatar_path_with(dir.path(), Some("testuser"), &icons_dir);
-        assert_eq!(path, Some(icon));
+        let expected = fs::canonicalize(&icon).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(path, Some(expected));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -124,7 +133,8 @@ mod tests {
         let icon = icons_dir.join("testuser");
         fs::write(&icon, "fake image").unwrap();
         let path = get_avatar_path_with(dir.path(), Some("testuser"), &icons_dir);
-        assert_eq!(path, Some(face));
+        let expected = fs::canonicalize(&face).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(path, Some(expected));
     }
 
     #[test]