diff --git a/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js b/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js
index addb637796..f68e98ec3d 100644
--- a/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js
+++ b/src/components/views/avatars/BaseAvatar.js
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
 
         let idx = 0;
         const initial = name[0];
-        if ((initial === '@' || initial === '#') && name[1]) {
+        if ((initial === '@' || initial === '#' || initial === '+') && name[1]) {
             idx++;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/components/views/groups/GroupInviteTile.js b/src/components/views/groups/GroupInviteTile.js
index 07c0bcf6b9..d7a04247ec 100644
--- a/src/components/views/groups/GroupInviteTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/groups/GroupInviteTile.js
@@ -38,19 +38,17 @@ export default React.createClass({
         const BaseAvatar = sdk.getComponent('avatars.BaseAvatar');
         const EmojiText = sdk.getComponent('elements.EmojiText');
 
-        const av = (
-            <BaseAvatar name={this.props.group.name} width={24} height={24}
-                url={this.props.group.avatarUrl}
-            />
-        );
+        const groupName = this.props.group.name || this.props.group.groupId;
+
+        const av = <BaseAvatar name={groupName} width={24} height={24} url={this.props.group.avatarUrl} />;
 
         const label = <EmojiText
             element="div"
-            title={this.props.group.name}
+            title={groupName}
             className="mx_GroupInviteTile_name"
             dir="auto"
         >
-            { this.props.group.name }
+            { groupName }
         </EmojiText>;
 
         const badge = <div className="mx_GroupInviteTile_badge">!</div>;