diff --git a/src/server/game/Handlers/ChannelHandler.cpp b/src/server/game/Handlers/ChannelHandler.cpp
index 59fc409e1..81ebac075 100644
--- a/src/server/game/Handlers/ChannelHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game/Handlers/ChannelHandler.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "Player.h"
 
 #include <cctype>
+#include "utf8.h"
 
 void WorldSession::HandleJoinChannel(WorldPacket& recvPacket)
 {
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ void WorldSession::HandleJoinChannel(WorldPacket& recvPacket)
 
     // pussywizard: restrict allowed characters in channel name to avoid |0 and possibly other exploits
     //if (!ObjectMgr::IsValidChannelName(channelName))
-    if (channelName.find("|") != std::string::npos || channelName.size() >= 100)
+    if (channelName.find("|") != std::string::npos || channelName.size() >= 100 || !utf8::is_valid(channelName.begin(), channelName.end()))
         return;
 
     if (ChannelMgr* cMgr = ChannelMgr::forTeam(GetPlayer()->GetTeamId()))