diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
index 40c901163..93e13002d 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public class Commandnick extends EssentialsLoopCommand {
 
     private String formatNickname(final User user, final String nick) throws Exception {
         String newNick = user == null ? FormatUtil.replaceFormat(nick) : FormatUtil.formatString(user, "essentials.nick", nick);
-        if (!newNick.matches("^[a-zA-Z_0-9\u00a7]+$")) {
+        if (!newNick.matches("^[a-zA-Z_0-9\u00a7]+$") && user != null && !user.isAuthorized("essentials.nick.allowunsafe")) {
             throw new Exception(tl("nickNamesAlpha"));
         } else if (getNickLength(newNick) > ess.getSettings().getMaxNickLength()) {
             throw new Exception(tl("nickTooLong"));