diff --git a/config/nginx.sample.conf b/config/nginx.sample.conf
index 930b2c161..6ddd580ee 100644
--- a/config/nginx.sample.conf
+++ b/config/nginx.sample.conf
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ server {
       proxy_cache_key $uri;
       proxy_cache_valid 200 7d;
       proxy_cache_valid 404 1m;
+      proxy_http_version 1.1;
+      proxy_set_header Connection "";
 
       proxy_pass https://avatars.discourse.org/;
     }
@@ -232,6 +234,8 @@ server {
     proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
     proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
     proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $thescheme;
+    proxy_set_header Connection "";
+    proxy_http_version 1.1;
     proxy_pass http://discourse;
   }