diff --git a/state/nick.go b/state/nick.go
index b29d98a..1bc78a8 100644
--- a/state/nick.go
+++ b/state/nick.go
@@ -188,13 +188,15 @@ func (nm *NickMode) String() string {
 	}
 	str := "+"
 	v := reflect.Indirect(reflect.ValueOf(nm))
-	t := v.Type()
-	for i := 0; i < v.NumField(); i++ {
-		switch f := v.Field(i); f.Kind() {
-		// only bools here at the mo!
-		case reflect.Bool:
-			if f.Bool() {
-				str += NickModeToString[t.Field(i).Name]
+	if v.IsValid() {
+		t := v.Type()
+		for i := 0; i < v.NumField(); i++ {
+			switch f := v.Field(i); f.Kind() {
+			// only bools here at the mo!
+			case reflect.Bool:
+				if f.Bool() {
+					str += NickModeToString[t.Field(i).Name]
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}