diff --git a/src/scripts/device/apply-profile.lua b/src/scripts/device/apply-profile.lua
index bd09974e..0956ef47 100644
--- a/src/scripts/device/apply-profile.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/device/apply-profile.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ AsyncEventHook {
       execute = function (event, transition)
         local device = event:get_subject ()
         local profile = event:get_data ("selected-profile")
-        local dev_name = device.properties ["device.name"]
+        local dev_name = device.properties ["device.name"] or ""
 
         if not profile then
           log:info (device, "No profile found to set on " .. dev_name)
diff --git a/src/scripts/device/find-best-profile.lua b/src/scripts/device/find-best-profile.lua
index 368ea3a5..a9e40c7e 100644
--- a/src/scripts/device/find-best-profile.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/device/find-best-profile.lua
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ SimpleEventHook {
     end
 
     local device = event:get_subject ()
-    local dev_name = device.properties["device.name"]
+    local dev_name = device.properties["device.name"] or ""
     local off_profile = nil
     local best_profile = nil
     local unk_profile = nil