diff --git a/packages/access-client/src/agent.js b/packages/access-client/src/agent.js
index 35f9dc6e0..c2b7679a1 100644
--- a/packages/access-client/src/agent.js
+++ b/packages/access-client/src/agent.js
@@ -232,7 +232,16 @@ export class Agent {
       expiration: Infinity,
     })
 
-    const meta = { name, isRegistered: false }
+    /** @type {import('./types').SpaceMeta} */
+    const meta = { isRegistered: false }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line eqeqeq
+    if (name != undefined) {
+      if (typeof name !== 'string') {
+        throw new TypeError('invalid name')
+      }
+      meta.name = name
+    }
+
     await this.#data.addSpace(signer.did(), meta, proof)
 
     return {