diff --git a/src/groups.js b/src/groups.js
index 16b696708a..10d9137b8c 100644
--- a/src/groups.js
+++ b/src/groups.js
@@ -240,9 +240,9 @@ var utils = require('../public/src/utils');
 	Groups.escapeGroupData = function(group) {
 		if (group) {
 			group.nameEncoded = encodeURIComponent(group.name);
-			group.displayName = validator.escape(group.name);
-			group.description = validator.escape(group.description || '');
-			group.userTitle = validator.escape(group.userTitle || '') || group.displayName;
+			group.displayName = validator.escape(String(group.name));
+			group.description = validator.escape(String(group.description || ''));
+			group.userTitle = validator.escape(String(group.userTitle || '')) || group.displayName;
 		}
 	};