diff --git a/node/peer.go b/node/peer.go
index 5054949..76f4ee3 100644
--- a/node/peer.go
+++ b/node/peer.go
@@ -75,9 +75,6 @@ func safeKeyPrefix(key string) string {
 // Peer names must be 1-64 characters, start and end with alphanumeric,
 // and contain only alphanumeric, hyphens, underscores, and spaces.
 func validatePeerName(name string) error {
-	if name == "" {
-		return nil // Empty names are allowed (optional field)
-	}
 	if len(name) < PeerNameMinLength {
 		return coreerr.E("validatePeerName", "peer name too short", nil)
 	}
diff --git a/node/peer_test.go b/node/peer_test.go
index 7960f6f..393492b 100644
--- a/node/peer_test.go
+++ b/node/peer_test.go
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ func TestPeerRegistry_PeerNameValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		peerName  string
 		shouldErr bool
 	}{
-		{"empty name allowed", "", false},
+		{"empty name rejected", "", true},
 		{"single char", "A", false},
 		{"simple name", "MyPeer", false},
 		{"name with hyphen", "my-peer", false},
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ func TestValidatePeerName(t *testing.T) {
 		peerName  string
 		shouldErr bool
 	}{
-		{"empty allowed", "", false},
+		{"empty rejected", "", true},
 		{"single alphanumeric", "A", false},
 		{"simple alphanumeric", "TestPeer", false},
 		{"with hyphens", "test-peer", false},