diff --git a/homeassistant/components/media_player/denon.py b/homeassistant/components/media_player/denon.py
index 8260fb94509..572405baa6e 100755
--- a/homeassistant/components/media_player/denon.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/media_player/denon.py
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ class DenonDevice(MediaPlayerDevice):
 
     def _setup_sources(self, telnet):
         # NSFRN - Network name
-        self._name = self.telnet_request(telnet, 'NSFRN ?')[len('NSFRN '):]
+        nsfrn = self.telnet_request(telnet, 'NSFRN ?')[len('NSFRN '):]
+        if nsfrn:
+            self._name = nsfrn
 
         # SSFUN - Configured sources with names
         self._source_list = {}
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@ class DenonDevice(MediaPlayerDevice):
 
         if all_lines:
             return lines
-        return lines[0]
+        return lines[0] if lines else ''
 
     def telnet_command(self, command):
         """Establish a telnet connection and sends `command`."""