diff --git a/PkmnLibSharp/Battling/PokemonBuilder.cs b/PkmnLibSharp/Battling/PokemonBuilder.cs
index a288467..22bb955 100644
--- a/PkmnLibSharp/Battling/PokemonBuilder.cs
+++ b/PkmnLibSharp/Battling/PokemonBuilder.cs
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ namespace PkmnLibSharp.Battling
             PopulateUninitialized(species, forme!, random);
 
             Item? heldItem = null;
-            if (HeldItem != null)
+            if (HeldItem != null && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(HeldItem))
             {
                 if (!Library.StaticLibrary.ItemLibrary.TryGet(HeldItem, out heldItem))
                 {