diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/vm/UserVmManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/vm/UserVmManagerImpl.java
index caaf96c5388..e5faaf142e0 100755
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/vm/UserVmManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/vm/UserVmManagerImpl.java
@@ -1782,7 +1782,7 @@ public class UserVmManagerImpl extends ManagerBase implements UserVmManager, Use
 
         String description = "";
 
-        if (!displayName.equals(vmInstance.getDisplayName())) {
+        if (displayName != null && !displayName.equals(vmInstance.getDisplayName())) {
             description += "New display name: " + displayName + ". ";
         }