diff --git a/defaults/config.js b/defaults/config.js
index 5a2466fd..2573c816 100644
--- a/defaults/config.js
+++ b/defaults/config.js
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ module.exports = {
 	// - `nick`: Nick name. Percent signs (`%`) will be replaced by random
 	//   numbers from 0 to 9. For example, `Guest%%%` may become `Guest123`.
 	// - `username`: User name.
-	// - `realname`: Real name.
+	// - `realname`: Real name displayed by some clients. Defaults to the nick if set to ""
 	// - `leaveMessage`: Network specific leave message (overrides global leaveMessage)
 	// - `join`: Comma-separated list of channels to auto-join once connected.
 	//
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ module.exports = {
 		rejectUnauthorized: true,
 		nick: "thelounge%%",
 		username: "thelounge",
-		realname: "The Lounge User",
+		realname: "",
 		join: "#thelounge",
 		leaveMessage: "",
 	},
diff --git a/server/models/network.ts b/server/models/network.ts
index bfb080b9..f90a3bc6 100644
--- a/server/models/network.ts
+++ b/server/models/network.ts
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class Network {
 		}
 
 		this.username = cleanString(this.username) || "thelounge";
-		this.realname = cleanString(this.realname) || "The Lounge User";
+		this.realname = cleanString(this.realname) || this.nick;
 		this.leaveMessage = cleanString(this.leaveMessage);
 		this.password = cleanString(this.password);
 		this.host = cleanString(this.host).toLowerCase();
diff --git a/test/models/network.ts b/test/models/network.ts
index 9181a558..039866e8 100644
--- a/test/models/network.ts
+++ b/test/models/network.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ describe("Network", function () {
 			expect(network.validate({} as any)).to.be.true;
 			expect(network.nick).to.equal("thelounge");
 			expect(network.username).to.equal("thelounge");
-			expect(network.realname).to.equal("The Lounge User");
+			expect(network.realname).to.equal("thelounge");
 			expect(network.port).to.equal(6667);
 
 			const network2 = new Network({
@@ -186,6 +186,27 @@ describe("Network", function () {
 			Config.values.lockNetwork = false;
 		});
 
+		it("realname should be set to nick only if realname is empty", function () {
+			const network = new Network({
+				host: "localhost",
+				nick: "dummy",
+			});
+
+			expect(network.validate({} as any)).to.be.true;
+			expect(network.nick).to.equal("dummy");
+			expect(network.realname).to.equal("dummy");
+
+			const network2 = new Network({
+				host: "localhost",
+				nick: "dummy",
+				realname: "notdummy",
+			});
+
+			expect(network2.validate({} as any)).to.be.true;
+			expect(network2.nick).to.equal("dummy");
+			expect(network2.realname).to.equal("notdummy");
+		});
+
 		it("should apply STS policies iff they match", function () {
 			const client = {idMsg: 1, emit() {}} as any;
 			STSPolicies.update("irc.example.com", 7000, 3600);