diff --git a/core/mci_view_factory.js b/core/mci_view_factory.js
index 596cffa3..fa9c7ac8 100644
--- a/core/mci_view_factory.js
+++ b/core/mci_view_factory.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ var ToggleMenuView			= require('./toggle_menu_view.js').ToggleMenuView;
 var MaskEditTextView		= require('./mask_edit_text_view.js').MaskEditTextView;
 var StatusBarView			= require('./status_bar_view.js').StatusBarView;
 var MultiLineEditTextView	= require('./multi_line_edit_text_view.js').MultiLineEditTextView;
+var getMessageAreaByName	= require('./message_area.js').getMessageAreaByName;
 
 var Config					= require('./config.js').config;
 var ansi					= require('./ansi_term.js');
@@ -29,6 +30,14 @@ function MCIViewFactory(client) {
 }
 
 MCIViewFactory.prototype.getPredefinedViewLabel = function(code) {
+
+	var self = this;
+	
+	function getMessageAreaDescription() {
+		var area = getMessageAreaByName(self.client.user.properties.message_area_name);
+		return area ? area.desc : '';
+	}
+
 	try {
 		return {
 			BN	: Config.general.boardName,
@@ -49,7 +58,7 @@ MCIViewFactory.prototype.getPredefinedViewLabel = function(code) {
 			UT	: this.client.user.properties.theme_id,
 			MS	: moment(this.client.user.properties.account_created).format(this.client.currentTheme.helpers.getDateFormat()),
 
-			MA	: this.client.user.properties.message_area_desc,
+			MA	: getMessageAreaDescription(),
 
 
 			SH	: this.client.term.termHeight.toString(),
diff --git a/core/message_area.js b/core/message_area.js
index 4e1810cd..55a4b904 100644
--- a/core/message_area.js
+++ b/core/message_area.js
@@ -9,17 +9,32 @@ var _				= require('lodash');
 var assert			= require('assert');
 
 exports.getAvailableMessageAreas			= getAvailableMessageAreas;
+exports.getMessageAreaByName				= getMessageAreaByName;
 exports.changeMessageArea					= changeMessageArea;
 
 function getAvailableMessageAreas() {
 	return Config.messages.areas;
 }
 
+function getMessageAreaByName(areaName) {
+	areaName = areaName.toLowerCase();
+
+	var availAreas	= getAvailableMessageAreas();
+	var index		= _.findIndex(availAreas, function pred(an) {
+		return an.name == areaName;
+	});
+
+	if(index > -1) {
+		return availAreas[index];
+	}
+}
+
 function changeMessageArea(client, areaName, cb) {
 	
 	async.waterfall(
 		[
 			function getArea(callback) {
+				/*
 				var availAreas = getAvailableMessageAreas();
 
 				areaName	= areaName.toLowerCase();	//	always lookup lowercase
@@ -32,13 +47,21 @@ function changeMessageArea(client, areaName, cb) {
 				} else {
 					callback(new Error('Invalid message area'));
 				}
+				*/
+
+				var area = getMessageAreaByName(areaName);
+				if(area) {
+					callback(null, area);
+				} else {
+					callback(new Error('Invalid message area'));
+				}
 			},
 			function validateAccess(area, callback) {
 				//	:TODO: validate user has access to |area| -- must belong to group(s) specified
 				callback(null, area);
 			},
 			function changeArea(area, callback) {
-				client.user.persistProperties( { message_area_name : area.name, message_area_desc : area.desc }, function persisted(err) {
+				client.user.persistProperty('message_area_name', area.name, function persisted(err) {
 					callback(err, area);
 				});
 			}
diff --git a/core/user.js b/core/user.js
index 55b5f489..73a092ae 100644
--- a/core/user.js
+++ b/core/user.js
@@ -197,9 +197,7 @@ User.prototype.create = function(options, cb) {
 							if(1 === self.userId) {
 								self.properties.account_status = User.AccountStatus.active;
 							}
-
-
-
+							
 							callback(null);
 						}
 					}