diff --git a/zulip/integrations/git/post-receive b/zulip/integrations/git/post-receive
index a07722361..d2c45c800 100755
--- a/zulip/integrations/git/post-receive
+++ b/zulip/integrations/git/post-receive
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def git_commit_range(oldrev: str, newrev: str) -> str:
         if hasattr(config, "format_commit_message"):
             commits += config.format_commit_message(author_email, subject, commit_id)
         else:
-            commits += f"!avatar({author_email}) {subject}\n"
+            commits += f"* {subject} (by {author_email})\n"
     return commits
 
 
diff --git a/zulip/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py b/zulip/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
index cb26b2135..9c956a3b8 100644
--- a/zulip/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
+++ b/zulip/integrations/git/zulip_git_config.py
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ def commit_notice_destination(repo: str, branch: str, commit: str) -> Optional[D
 # common customization is to include a link to the commit in your
 # graphical repository viewer, e.g.
 #
-# return '!avatar(%s) [%s](https://example.com/commits/%s)\n' % (author, subject, commit_id)
+# return '* [%s](https://example.com/commits/%s) (by %s)\n' % (subject, commit_id, author)
 def format_commit_message(author: str, subject: str, commit_id: str) -> str:
-    return f"!avatar({author}) {subject}\n"
+    return f"* {subject} (by {author})\n"
 
 
 ## If properly installed, the Zulip API should be in your import