diff --git a/src/packets.cpp b/src/packets.cpp
index 7d24fe4..ac6dce0 100644
--- a/src/packets.cpp
+++ b/src/packets.cpp
@@ -512,6 +512,8 @@ AOPacket AOClient::validateIcPacket(AOPacket packet)
     if (incoming_args.length() > 15) {
         // showname
         QString incoming_showname = dezalgo(incoming_args[15].toString().trimmed());
+        if (incoming_showname.length() == 0)
+            incoming_showname = " ";
         args.append(incoming_showname);
         showname = incoming_showname;