GError in GnoMenu: Image file '/home/kvaks/.face' contains no data

Fresh Linux Mint installation. Installed awn and then installed gnomenu from "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/gnomenu-team/ppa/ubuntu maverick main". Added the gnomenu applet to awn and it immediately crashed with error dialog: Image file '/home/kvaks/.face' contains no data

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/awn/extras/awnlib.py", line 1391, in init_start
    applet_class(applet)
  File "/usr/share/avant-window-navigator/applets/GnoMenu/GnoMenu.py", line 55, in __init__
    self.hwg = Main_Menu(self.HideMenu)
  File "/usr/lib/gnomenu/Menu_Main.py", line 88, in __init__
    self.setup()
  File "/usr/lib/gnomenu/Menu_Main.py", line 302, in setup
    self.shape()
  File "/usr/lib/gnomenu/Menu_Main.py", line 283, in shape
    cairo_drawing.draw_scaled_image(ctx,Globals.IconInX +Globals.UserIconFrameOffsetX,Globals.UserIconFrameOffsetY+Globals.IconInY,Globals.UserImage,Globals.IconInW ,Globals.IconInH)
  File "/usr/lib/gnomenu/cairo_drawing.py", line 26, in draw_scaled_image
    pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_file(pix).scale_simple(w,h,gtk.gdk.INTERP_BILINEAR)
GError: Image file '/home/kvaks/.face' contains no data