diff --git a/layouts/partials/hero/background.html b/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
index ac4adb8a..f43cd843 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/hero/background.html
@@ -4,11 +4,22 @@
 {{- $featured := $images.GetMatch "*background*" -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "*feature*" }}{{ end -}}
 {{- if not $featured }}{{ $featured = $images.GetMatch "{*cover*,*thumbnail*}" }}{{ end -}}
+
 {{ if and .Params.featureimage (not $featured) }}
 {{- $url:= .Params.featureimage -}}
 {{ $featured = resources.GetRemote $url }}
 {{ end }}
-{{- if not $featured }}{{ with .Site.Params.defaultBackgroundImage }}{{ $featured = resources.Get . }}{{ end }}{{ end -}}
+
+{{- if not $featured }}
+ {{ with .Site.Params.defaultBackgroundImage }}
+  {{ if or (strings.HasPrefix . "http:") (strings.HasPrefix . "https:") }}
+   {{ $featured = resources.GetRemote . }}
+  {{ else }}
+   {{ $featured = resources.Get . }}
+  {{ end }}
+ {{ end }}
+{{ end -}}
+
 {{ $isParentList := eq (.Scratch.Get "scope") "list"  }}
 {{ $shouldBlur := $.Params.layoutBackgroundBlur | default (or 
         (and ($.Site.Params.article.layoutBackgroundBlur | default true) (not $isParentList))