diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/api/Economy.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/api/Economy.java
index c694d63fd..f12823409 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/api/Economy.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/api/Economy.java
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ public class Economy
 		{
 			throw new RuntimeException(noCallBeforeLoad);
 		}
+		if (name == null)
+		{
+			throw new RuntimeException("Economy username cannot be null");
+		}
 		return ess.getUser(name);
 	}