diff --git a/routes.go b/routes.go
index 6a9900c..6a51696 100644
--- a/routes.go
+++ b/routes.go
@@ -152,18 +152,6 @@ var funcMap = template.FuncMap{
 		}
 		return "/_/static/text.png"
 	},
-	"banner": func(site lemmy.Site) string {
-		bannerURL := ""
-		if site.Banner.IsValid() {
-			bannerURL = site.Banner.String()
-		} else if site.Icon.IsValid() {
-			bannerURL = site.Icon.String()
-		}
-		if pictrs.MatchString(bannerURL) {
-			return bannerURL + "?format=jpg&thumbnail=300"
-		}
-		return bannerURL
-	},
 	"cbanner": func(c lemmy.Community) string {
 		bannerURL := ""
 		if c.Banner.IsValid() {
diff --git a/templates/sidebar.html b/templates/sidebar.html
index 56fb6ac..26cb139 100644
--- a/templates/sidebar.html
+++ b/templates/sidebar.html
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@
 {{- end -}}
 
 {{- if and .Site (not .Community) (not .User) }}
-  {{- if (or .Site.SiteView.Site.Banner.IsValid .Site.SiteView.Site.Icon.IsValid) }}
-      <div class="banner" style="background-image: url({{ banner .Site.SiteView.Site }})"></div>
+  {{- if .Site.SiteView.Site.Banner.IsValid }}
+      <div class="banner" style="background-image: url({{ .Site.SiteView.Site.Banner.String }})"></div>
   {{- end }}
       <h1>{{ .Site.SiteView.Site.Name }}</h1>
       {{ printer .Site.SiteView.Counts.Users }} readers <br>