diff --git a/src/fe-gtk/setup.c b/src/fe-gtk/setup.c
index 2b4e9b73..70e82c9a 100644
--- a/src/fe-gtk/setup.c
+++ b/src/fe-gtk/setup.c
@@ -2241,6 +2241,12 @@ setup_apply (struct hexchatprefs *pr)
 	}
 #endif
 
+	if (prefs.hex_irc_real_name[0] == 0)
+	{
+		fe_message (_("The Realname option cannot be left blank. Defaulting back to \"realname\"."), FE_MSG_WARN);
+		strcpy (prefs.hex_irc_real_name, "realname");
+	}
+	
 	setup_apply_real (new_pix, do_ulist, do_layout);
 
 	if (noapply)