diff --git a/sc/source/filter/excel/xename.cxx b/sc/source/filter/excel/xename.cxx
index 5607a9068d4f..aa33b31deeb3 100644
--- a/sc/source/filter/excel/xename.cxx
+++ b/sc/source/filter/excel/xename.cxx
@@ -322,6 +322,8 @@ OUString XclExpName::GetWithDefaultRangeSeparator( const OUString& rSymbol ) con
             }
         }
     }
+    if (rSymbol.isEmpty())
+        return u"#NAME?"_ustr;
     return rSymbol;
 }