diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula_creator.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula_creator.rb
index 3c7b3933d7..14ea817481 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula_creator.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula_creator.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ module Homebrew
     end
 
     def write_formula!
+      raise "name should not be empty" if @name.to_s == ''
       path = @tap.new_formula_path(@name)
       raise "#{path} already exists" if path.exist?