diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/spark/component/renderer/JContactItemRenderer.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/spark/component/renderer/JContactItemRenderer.java
index 7c2987e5a..605c83b9c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/spark/component/renderer/JContactItemRenderer.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/spark/component/renderer/JContactItemRenderer.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class JContactItemRenderer extends ContactItem implements ListCellRendere
 		setFocusable(false);
 		setNickname(renderItem.getNickname());
 		setAlias(renderItem.getAlias());
-                if (this.getDisplayName().trim().isEmpty()) {
+                if (this.getDisplayName().isEmpty()) {
                     // Fallback hack to show something other than empty string.
                     // JID can't be set after object creation, so alias is reset.
                     setAlias(renderItem.getDisplayName());