diff --git a/src/main/java/com/jeremiahbl/bfcmod/utils/BetterForgeChatUtilities.java b/src/main/java/com/jeremiahbl/bfcmod/utils/BetterForgeChatUtilities.java
index 3d7a289..0d1dad4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/jeremiahbl/bfcmod/utils/BetterForgeChatUtilities.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/jeremiahbl/bfcmod/utils/BetterForgeChatUtilities.java
@@ -16,11 +16,18 @@ public static String getRawPreferredPlayerName(ServerPlayer player, boolean enab
 		String pfx = "", sfx = "";
 		if(enableMetadata && BetterForgeChat.instance.metadataProvider != null) {
 			String[] dat = BetterForgeChat.instance.metadataProvider.getPlayerPrefixAndSuffix(player);
-			pfx = dat[0];
-			sfx = dat[1];
+			pfx = dat[0] != null ? dat[0] : "";
+			sfx = dat[1] != null ? dat[1] : "";
 		}
 		String fmat = ConfigHandler.config.playerNameFormat.get();
-		return fmat.replace("$prefix", pfx).replace("$name", name).replace("$suffix", sfx);
+		if(name == null) {
+			BetterForgeChat.LOGGER.info("NicknameProvider (FTB Essentials) returned a null nickname, please post issue on GitHub!");
+			name = player.getGameProfile().getName();
+		}
+		if(fmat == null) {
+			BetterForgeChat.LOGGER.warn("Could not get playerNameFormat from configuration file, please post issue on GitHub!");
+			return player.getGameProfile().getName();
+		} else return fmat.replace("$prefix", pfx).replace("$name", name).replace("$suffix", sfx);
 	}
 	public static TextComponent getFormattedPlayerName(ServerPlayer player) {
 		return TextFormatter.stringToFormattedText(getRawPreferredPlayerName(player));