diff --git a/lib/channel/kickban.js b/lib/channel/kickban.js
index 33c88f90..233e02f3 100644
--- a/lib/channel/kickban.js
+++ b/lib/channel/kickban.js
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ KickBanModule.prototype.handleCmdKick = function (user, msg, meta) {
 
     var args = msg.split(" ");
     args.shift(); /* shift off /kick */
-    if (args.length === 0) {
+    if (args.length === 0 || args[0].trim() === "") {
         return user.socket.emit("errorMsg", {
             msg: "No kick target specified.  If you're trying to kick " +
                  "anonymous users, use /kickanons"
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ KickBanModule.prototype.handleCmdKickAnons = function (user, msg, meta) {
 KickBanModule.prototype.handleCmdBan = function (user, msg, meta) {
     var args = msg.split(" ");
     args.shift(); /* shift off /ban */
-    if (args.length === 0) {
+    if (args.length === 0 || args[0].trim() === "") {
         return user.socket.emit("errorMsg", {
             msg: "No ban target specified."
         });
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ KickBanModule.prototype.handleCmdBan = function (user, msg, meta) {
 KickBanModule.prototype.handleCmdIPBan = function (user, msg, meta) {
     var args = msg.split(" ");
     args.shift(); /* shift off /ipban */
-    if (args.length === 0) {
+    if (args.length === 0 || args[0].trim() === "") {
         return user.socket.emit("errorMsg", {
             msg: "No ban target specified."
         });