diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/ConfirmAvatarDialogFragment.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/ConfirmAvatarDialogFragment.java
index e56bbd5e6..0a3f7f7e0 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/ConfirmAvatarDialogFragment.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/ConfirmAvatarDialogFragment.java
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ public class ConfirmAvatarDialogFragment extends DialogFragment {
 		ViewModelProvider provider =
 				new ViewModelProvider(activity, viewModelFactory);
 		settingsViewModel = provider.get(SettingsViewModel.class);
-		settingsViewModel.onCreate();
 
 		AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(activity);
 
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsActivity.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsActivity.java
index 978b23ccf..d76e2c048 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsActivity.java
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ public class SettingsActivity extends BriarActivity {
 			ViewModelProvider provider =
 					new ViewModelProvider(this, viewModelFactory);
 			settingsViewModel = provider.get(SettingsViewModel.class);
-			settingsViewModel.onCreate();
 
 			settingsViewModel.getOwnIdentityInfo().observe(this, us -> {
 				TextView textViewUserName = findViewById(R.id.username);
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsViewModel.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsViewModel.java
index 875feaa05..2213e32d8 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsViewModel.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/settings/SettingsViewModel.java
@@ -61,10 +61,8 @@ class SettingsViewModel extends AndroidViewModel {
 		this.avatarManager = avatarManager;
 		this.authorManager = authorManager;
 		this.dbExecutor = dbExecutor;
-	}
 
-	void onCreate() {
-		if (ownIdentityInfo.getValue() == null) loadOwnIdentityInfo();
+		loadOwnIdentityInfo();
 	}
 
 	LiveData<OwnIdentityInfo> getOwnIdentityInfo() {