diff --git a/src/fe-gtk/banlist.c b/src/fe-gtk/banlist.c
index 27aee073..be7873d5 100644
--- a/src/fe-gtk/banlist.c
+++ b/src/fe-gtk/banlist.c
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ banlist_opengui (struct session *sess)
 	GtkWidget *table, *vbox, *bbox;
 	char tbuf[256];
 
-	if (sess->type != SESS_CHANNEL)
+	if (sess->type != SESS_CHANNEL || sess->channel[0] == 0)
 	{
 		fe_message (_("You can only open the Ban List window while in a channel tab."), FE_MSG_ERROR);
 		return;