diff --git a/lib/channel/chat.js b/lib/channel/chat.js
index d5805aaf..8bce8874 100644
--- a/lib/channel/chat.js
+++ b/lib/channel/chat.js
@@ -487,7 +487,15 @@ ChatModule.prototype.handleCmdSMute = function (user, msg, meta) {
     var args = msg.split(" ");
     args.shift(); /* shift off /smute */
 
-    var name = args.shift().toLowerCase();
+    var name = args.shift();
+    if (typeof name !== "string") {
+        user.socket.emit("errorMsg", {
+            msg: "/smute requires a target name"
+        });
+        return;
+    }
+    name = name.toLowerCase();
+
     var target;
 
     for (var i = 0; i < this.channel.users.length; i++) {