diff --git a/src/commands.c b/src/commands.c
index 227c7fb1..2c709aef 100644
--- a/src/commands.c
+++ b/src/commands.c
@@ -1851,6 +1851,7 @@ void cmd_rename_workspace(I3_CMD, char *old_name, char *new_name) {
                    !strcasecmp(child->name, old_name));
     } else {
         workspace = con_get_workspace(focused);
+        old_name = workspace->name;
     }
 
     if (!workspace) {
diff --git a/testcases/t/175-startup-notification.t b/testcases/t/175-startup-notification.t
index 4ca41799..b27bed53 100644
--- a/testcases/t/175-startup-notification.t
+++ b/testcases/t/175-startup-notification.t
@@ -155,6 +155,11 @@ cmd "rename workspace temp to $first_ws";
 
 is_num_children($first_ws, 3, 'three containers on the first workspace');
 
+# empty 'from' workspaces should not crash the renaming of startup sequences
+cmd "workspace $first_ws";
+cmd "rename workspace to temp";
+cmd "rename workspace to $first_ws";
+
 # Switch to the first workspace and move the focused window to the
 # second workspace.
 cmd "workspace $first_ws";