diff --git a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/avatar.rs b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/avatar.rs
index c76dd77d..82dca680 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/avatar.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/avatar.rs
@@ -276,8 +276,15 @@ fn fs_main(in: VertexOutput) -> @location(0) vec4<f32> {
                 uniform_buffer,
             });
 
+        let initial_rot = {
+            let x_rotation = Quaternion::from_axis_angle(&Vec3::new(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), 0.5);
+            let y_rotation = Quaternion::from_axis_angle(&Vec3::new(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), 0.5);
+
+            // Apply rotations (order matters)
+            y_rotation.multiply(&x_rotation)
+        };
         Self {
-            rotation: Quaternion::identity(),
+            rotation: initial_rot,
             rot_dir: Vec3::new(0.0, 0.0, 0.0),
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/lib.rs b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/lib.rs
index fa1ae534..c1663e20 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use time::{format_description::well_known::Rfc3339, OffsetDateTime};
 
 pub use avatar::DaveAvatar;
-use egui::{Rect, Vec2};
 use egui_wgpu::RenderState;
 
 pub use quaternion::Quaternion;