diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/basegeom.hpp b/libsrc/meshing/basegeom.hpp
index 642db838..c381de7c 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/basegeom.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/basegeom.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace netgen
     double hpref = 0;  // number of hp refinement levels (will be multiplied by factor later)
     void Merge(const ShapeProperties & prop2)
     {
-      if (prop2.name) name = prop2.name;
+      if (!name && prop2.name) name = prop2.name;
       if (prop2.col) col = prop2.col;
       maxh = min2(maxh, prop2.maxh);
       hpref = max2(hpref, prop2.hpref);