diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index ee1a6ab..f37afad 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ func (s *Server) RunWorker() {
 
 func (s *Server) upstreamWorker() {
 
+	var BLANK_NICK = "PtokaX" // "\xC2\xA0"
+
 	// Read loop
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -165,7 +167,7 @@ func (s *Server) upstreamWorker() {
 				// description change - no relevance for IRC users
 
 			case libnmdc.EVENT_CONNECTION_STATE_CHANGED:
-				s.reply(rplMsg, "", BLESSED_CHANNEL, "* Upstream: "+hubEvent.StateChange.Format())
+				s.reply(rplMsg, BLANK_NICK, BLESSED_CHANNEL, "* Upstream: "+hubEvent.StateChange.Format())
 
 			case libnmdc.EVENT_HUBNAME_CHANGED:
 				s.sendChannelTopic(hubEvent.Nick)
@@ -182,7 +184,7 @@ func (s *Server) upstreamWorker() {
 
 			case libnmdc.EVENT_SYSTEM_MESSAGE_FROM_CONN, libnmdc.EVENT_SYSTEM_MESSAGE_FROM_HUB:
 				// FIXME blank names work well in hexchat, but not in yaaic
-				s.reply(rplMsg, "", BLESSED_CHANNEL, hubEvent.Message)
+				s.reply(rplMsg, BLANK_NICK, BLESSED_CHANNEL, hubEvent.Message)
 
 			}
 		}