diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
index 9716816e126..a2c3f364ded 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandnick.java
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ protected void updatePlayer(final Server server, final CommandSource sender, fin
             target.sendTl("nickNoMore");
         } else if (target.getName().equalsIgnoreCase(nick)) {
             setNickname(server, sender, target, nick);
-            if (!target.getDisplayName().equalsIgnoreCase(target.getDisplayName())) {
+            final String strippedDisplay = FormatUtil.stripFormat(target.getDisplayName());
+            if (strippedDisplay != null && !strippedDisplay.equalsIgnoreCase(target.getName())) {
                 target.sendTl("nickNoMore");
             }
             target.sendTl("nickSet", ess.getSettings().changeDisplayName() ? target.getDisplayName() : nick);