diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
index b58b994d9..27c1b8875 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_item.cpp
@@ -594,6 +594,9 @@ int ModApiItemMod::l_register_item_raw(lua_State *L)
 		// be done
 		if (f.name == "ignore")
 			return 0;
+		// This would break everything
+		if (f.name.empty())
+			throw LuaError("Cannot register node with empty name");
 
 		content_t id = ndef->set(f.name, f);