diff --git a/src/view.c b/src/view.c
index df7a1116..12637f9a 100644
--- a/src/view.c
+++ b/src/view.c
@@ -2335,13 +2335,15 @@ view_has_strut_partial(struct view *view)
 		view->impl->has_strut_partial(view);
 }
 
+/* Note: It is safe to assume that this function never returns NULL */
 const char *
 view_get_string_prop(struct view *view, const char *prop)
 {
 	assert(view);
 	assert(prop);
 	if (view->impl->get_string_prop) {
-		return view->impl->get_string_prop(view, prop);
+		const char *ret = view->impl->get_string_prop(view, prop);
+		return ret ? ret : "";
 	}
 	return "";
 }
diff --git a/src/xdg.c b/src/xdg.c
index be4173ec..b6c25b9a 100644
--- a/src/xdg.c
+++ b/src/xdg.c
@@ -660,10 +660,10 @@ xdg_toplevel_view_get_string_prop(struct view *view, const char *prop)
 	}
 
 	if (!strcmp(prop, "title")) {
-		return xdg_toplevel->title;
+		return xdg_toplevel->title ? xdg_toplevel->title : "";
 	}
 	if (!strcmp(prop, "app_id")) {
-		return xdg_toplevel->app_id;
+		return xdg_toplevel->app_id ? xdg_toplevel->app_id : "";
 	}
 	return "";
 }
diff --git a/src/xwayland.c b/src/xwayland.c
index 4e53f62e..a1124a50 100644
--- a/src/xwayland.c
+++ b/src/xwayland.c
@@ -485,10 +485,10 @@ xwayland_view_get_string_prop(struct view *view, const char *prop)
 	}
 
 	if (!strcmp(prop, "title")) {
-		return xwayland_surface->title;
+		return xwayland_surface->title ? xwayland_surface->title : "";
 	}
 	if (!strcmp(prop, "class")) {
-		return xwayland_surface->class;
+		return xwayland_surface->class ? xwayland_surface->class : "";
 	}
 	/*
 	 * Use the WM_CLASS 'instance' (1st string) for the app_id. Per
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ xwayland_view_get_string_prop(struct view *view, const char *prop)
 	 * here since we use the app_id for icon lookups.
 	 */
 	if (!strcmp(prop, "app_id")) {
-		return xwayland_surface->instance;
+		return xwayland_surface->instance ? xwayland_surface->instance : "";
 	}
 	return "";
 }