diff --git a/src/plugins/irc/irc-protocol.c b/src/plugins/irc/irc-protocol.c
index e848cac0a..550fced10 100644
--- a/src/plugins/irc/irc-protocol.c
+++ b/src/plugins/irc/irc-protocol.c
@@ -544,6 +544,7 @@ IRC_PROTOCOL_CALLBACK(away)
     struct t_irc_nick *ptr_nick;
 
     IRC_PROTOCOL_MIN_PARAMS(0);
+    IRC_PROTOCOL_CHECK_NICK;
 
     for (ptr_channel = server->channels; ptr_channel;
          ptr_channel = ptr_channel->next_channel)
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/irc/test-irc-protocol.cpp b/tests/unit/plugins/irc/test-irc-protocol.cpp
index c42c0744a..5f7c1c630 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/irc/test-irc-protocol.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/irc/test-irc-protocol.cpp
@@ -725,6 +725,10 @@ TEST(IrcProtocolWithServer, away)
 
     SRV_INIT_JOIN;
 
+    /* missing nick */
+    RECV("AWAY");
+    CHECK_ERROR_NICK("away");
+
     ptr_nick = ptr_server->channels->nicks;
 
     LONGS_EQUAL(0, ptr_nick->away);