diff --git a/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java b/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
index 36ea3b8b..2e9d0bdb 100644
--- a/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
+++ b/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ public class ItemTemplate {
             item_passive_defense_mod = ((Double) jsonObject.get("item_passive_defense_mod")).floatValue();
             item_base_name = (String) jsonObject.get("item_base_name");
 
-            if (item_base_name == null)
+            if (item_base_name.isEmpty())
                 Logger.error(this.obj_name + " missing base name");
 
             item_dsc = (String) jsonObject.get("item_dsc");