diff --git a/src/com/sheepit/client/Configuration.java b/src/com/sheepit/client/Configuration.java
index afb6639..518c908 100644
--- a/src/com/sheepit/client/Configuration.java
+++ b/src/com/sheepit/client/Configuration.java
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ public class Configuration {
 			return InetAddress.getLocalHost().getHostName();
 		}
 		catch (UnknownHostException e) {
-			return null;
+			return "";
 		}
 	}