diff --git a/avatarapproval.module b/avatarapproval.module
index c569fbf..045ff9f 100755
--- a/avatarapproval.module
+++ b/avatarapproval.module
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ function _avatarapproval_create_master($orig_file, $master_file_path, $md5) {
       'approved' => AVATAR_NOT_YET_MODERATED
     ))
     ->execute();
+	$master_file->status = FILE_STATUS_PERMANENT;
+	$master_file = file_save($master_file);		
   return $master_file;
 }
 
@@ -813,7 +815,9 @@ function avatarapproval_do_approval($md5, $approved = AVATAR_APPROVED) {
       );
 
       $new_avatar = file_copy($source, $account_picture_uri, FILE_EXISTS_REPLACE);
-      $new_avatar_fid = $new_avatar->fid;
+			$new_avatar->status = FILE_STATUS_PERMANENT;
+			$new_avatar = file_save($new_avatar);
+			$new_avatar_fid = $new_avatar->fid;
     }
 
     db_update('users')