diff --git a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaItem.java b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaItem.java
index 4e838f853b..b2bf896ad1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaItem.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaItem.java
@@ -674,7 +674,8 @@ class CraftMetaItem implements ItemMeta, Damageable, Repairable, BlockDataMeta {
 
         NBTTagList tagList = new NBTTagList();
         for (IChatBaseComponent value : list) {
-            tagList.add(new NBTTagString(version >= 1803 ? CraftChatMessage.toJSON(value) : CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(value, EnumChatFormat.DARK_PURPLE))); // SPIGOT-4935
+            // SPIGOT-5342 - horrible hack as 0 version does not go through the Mojang updater
+            tagList.add(new NBTTagString(0 <= version || version >= 1803 ? CraftChatMessage.toJSON(value) : CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(value, EnumChatFormat.DARK_PURPLE))); // SPIGOT-4935
         }
 
         return tagList;