diff --git a/src/yggdrasil/admin.go b/src/yggdrasil/admin.go
index ebd11d9c..7d82b135 100644
--- a/src/yggdrasil/admin.go
+++ b/src/yggdrasil/admin.go
@@ -739,6 +739,10 @@ func (a *admin) admin_dhtPing(keyString, coordString, targetString string) (dhtR
 	}
 	var coords []byte
 	for _, cstr := range strings.Split(strings.Trim(coordString, "[]"), " ") {
+		if cstr == "" {
+			// Special case, happens if trimmed is the empty string, e.g. this is the root
+			continue
+		}
 		if u64, err := strconv.ParseUint(cstr, 10, 8); err != nil {
 			return dhtRes{}, err
 		} else {