diff --git a/avatar/models.py b/avatar/models.py
index a798bae..d3a793f 100644
--- a/avatar/models.py
+++ b/avatar/models.py
@@ -202,10 +202,13 @@ def create_default_thumbnails(sender, instance, created=False, **kwargs):
 
 
 def remove_avatar_images(instance=None, **kwargs):
-    if hasattr(instance, "user"):
-        for size in settings.AVATAR_AUTO_GENERATE_SIZES:
-            if instance.thumbnail_exists(size):
-                instance.avatar.storage.delete(instance.avatar_name(size))
+    base_filepath = instance.avatar.name
+    path, filename = os.path.split(base_filepath)
+    # iterate through resized avatars directories and delete resized avatars
+    resized_sizes, _ = instance.avatar.storage.listdir(os.path.join(path, "resized"))
+    for size in resized_sizes:
+        if instance.thumbnail_exists(size):
+            instance.avatar.storage.delete(instance.avatar_name(size))
     if instance.avatar.storage.exists(instance.avatar.name):
         instance.avatar.storage.delete(instance.avatar.name)