diff --git a/mailinfo.c b/mailinfo.c
index ccc6beb27e..184ed8d581 100644
--- a/mailinfo.c
+++ b/mailinfo.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static void cleanup_space(struct strbuf *sb)
 static void get_sane_name(struct strbuf *out, struct strbuf *name, struct strbuf *email)
 {
 	struct strbuf *src = name;
-	if (name->len < 3 || 60 < name->len || strpbrk(name->buf, "@<>"))
+	if (!name->len || 60 < name->len || strpbrk(name->buf, "@<>"))
 		src = email;
 	else if (name == out)
 		return;