diff --git a/src/core/ignore.c b/src/core/ignore.c
index 2429f2ae..69460c5b 100644
--- a/src/core/ignore.c
+++ b/src/core/ignore.c
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ int ignore_check(SERVER_REC *server, const char *nick, const char *host,
         int len, best_mask, best_match, best_patt;
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail(server != NULL, 0);
+        if (nick == NULL) nick = "";
 
 	chanrec = (channel != NULL && server != NULL &&
 		   server->ischannel(channel)) ?