diff --git a/src/barebox-state.c b/src/barebox-state.c
index 64831df..c2c1d32 100644
--- a/src/barebox-state.c
+++ b/src/barebox-state.c
@@ -508,6 +508,8 @@
 
 	list_for_each_entry(state, &state_list.list, list) {
 		state->state = state_get(state->name, readonly);
+		if (!state->name)
+			state->name = state->state->name;
 		if (IS_ERR(state->state)) {
 			ret = 1;
 			goto out_unlock;