diff --git a/src/calcurse.h b/src/calcurse.h
index ee96bbe..c6dbe64 100644
--- a/src/calcurse.h
+++ b/src/calcurse.h
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ struct conf {
 };
 
 #define EMPTY_DAY_DEFAULT "--"
+#define EMPTY_EVENT_DESC_DEFAULT _("(empty description)")
 
 /* Daemon-related configuration. */
 struct dmon_conf {
diff --git a/src/day.c b/src/day.c
index 7eb6693..a6f338b 100644
--- a/src/day.c
+++ b/src/day.c
@@ -198,11 +198,16 @@ static void day_add_item(int type, time_t start, time_t order, union aptev_ptr i
 /* Get the message of an item. */
 char *day_item_get_mesg(struct day_item *day)
 {
-	switch (day->type) {
+	char *message;
+	switch (day->type)
+	{
 	case APPT:
 		return day->item.apt->mesg;
 	case EVNT:
-		return day->item.ev->mesg;
+		message = day->item.ev->mesg;
+		if (*message == '\0')
+			return EMPTY_EVENT_DESC_DEFAULT;
+		return message;
 	case RECUR_APPT:
 		return day->item.rapt->mesg;
 	case RECUR_EVNT: