diff --git a/src/main/java/com/cnaude/purpleirc/PurpleIRC.java b/src/main/java/com/cnaude/purpleirc/PurpleIRC.java
index 98d00ef..b4b3a5e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/cnaude/purpleirc/PurpleIRC.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/cnaude/purpleirc/PurpleIRC.java
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ public class PurpleIRC extends JavaPlugin {
             logDebug("getNickname (" + player + "): " + ex.getMessage());
         }
         if (nickname == null) {
-            nickname = "";
+            nickname = player;
         }
         return ChatColor.translateAlternateColorCodes('&', nickname);
     }