diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.mqtt.homeassistant/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/mqtt/homeassistant/internal/component/AbstractComponent.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.mqtt.homeassistant/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/mqtt/homeassistant/internal/component/AbstractComponent.java
index 87625305d..ebe696ee0 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.mqtt.homeassistant/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/mqtt/homeassistant/internal/component/AbstractComponent.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.mqtt.homeassistant/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/mqtt/homeassistant/internal/component/AbstractComponent.java
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ public abstract class AbstractComponent<C extends AbstractChannelConfiguration>
 
         this.haID = componentConfiguration.getHaID();
 
-        if (channelConfiguration.getName() != null) {
+        String name = channelConfiguration.getName();
+        if (name != null && !name.isEmpty()) {
             String groupId = this.haID.getGroupId(channelConfiguration.getUniqueId());
 
             this.channelGroupTypeUID = new ChannelGroupTypeUID(MqttBindingConstants.BINDING_ID, groupId);