diff --git a/uinput.go b/uinput.go
index 1eb1171..4195f1d 100644
--- a/uinput.go
+++ b/uinput.go
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ func validateDevicePath(path string) {
 }
 
 func validateUinputName(name []byte) {
+	if name == nil || len(name) == 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("device name may not be empty"))
+	}
 	if len(name) > uinputMaxNameSize {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("device name %s is too long (maximum of %d characters allowed)", name, uinputMaxNameSize))
 	}
diff --git a/uinput_test.go b/uinput_test.go
index 7934d73..37789ba 100644
--- a/uinput_test.go
+++ b/uinput_test.go
@@ -30,3 +30,17 @@ func TestValidateDevicePathInvalidPathPanics(t *testing.T) {
 	validateDevicePath(path)
 	t.Fatalf("Invalid path did not yield a panic")
 }
+
+func TestValidateUinputNameEmptyNamePanics(t *testing.T) {
+	expected := "device name may not be empty"
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			actual := r.(string)
+			if actual != expected {
+				t.Fatalf("Expected: %s\nActual: %s", expected, actual)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	validateUinputName(nil)
+	t.Fatalf("expected panic due to validation error, but nothing happened...")
+}