diff --git a/src/plugins/fset/fset-bar-item.c b/src/plugins/fset/fset-bar-item.c
index e722cb247..d0d28b7b0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/fset/fset-bar-item.c
+++ b/src/plugins/fset/fset-bar-item.c
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ fset_bar_item_fset_cb (const void *pointer, void *data,
               weechat_color (weechat_config_string (fset_config_color_help_name)),
               ptr_fset_option->name,
               weechat_color ("bar_fg"),
-              ptr_fset_option->description,
+              (ptr_fset_option->description && ptr_fset_option->description[0]) ?
+              ptr_fset_option->description : _("(no description)"),
               weechat_color ("bar_delim"),
               weechat_color ("bar_fg"),
               weechat_color (weechat_config_string (fset_config_color_help_default_value)),