diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/jnbt/Tag.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/jnbt/Tag.java
index 2ab0861ea..e0d7d3f4b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/jnbt/Tag.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/jnbt/Tag.java
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 
 package com.sk89q.jnbt;
 
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
-
 /**
  * Represents a NBT tag.
  */
@@ -41,7 +39,9 @@ public abstract class Tag {
      * @param name the name
      */
     Tag(String name) {
-        checkNotNull(name);
+        if (name == null) {
+            name = "";
+        }
         this.name = name;
     }