diff --git a/libEDSsharp/CanOpenNodeExporter.cs b/libEDSsharp/CanOpenNodeExporter.cs
index 99a3973..00c54a0 100644
--- a/libEDSsharp/CanOpenNodeExporter.cs
+++ b/libEDSsharp/CanOpenNodeExporter.cs
@@ -900,6 +900,9 @@ string make_cname(string name)
             if (name == null)
                 return null;
 
+            if (name == "")
+                return "";
+
            string[] bits = Regex.Split(name,@"[\W]+");
 
            string output = "";