diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.cpp
index 7c0010c044..8a43dd981d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 #include "containerstore.hpp"
 
+const std::string MWWorld::Ptr::sEmptyString;
+
 ESM::CellRef& MWWorld::Ptr::getCellRef() const
 {
     assert (mCellRef);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
index de1064b2b6..c028381b4b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     class Ptr
     {
+            static const std::string sEmptyString;
+
         public:
 
             typedef MWWorld::CellStore CellStore;
@@ -20,7 +22,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
             ESM::CellRef *mCellRef;
             RefData *mRefData;
             CellStore *mCell;
-            std::string mTypeName;
             ContainerStore *mContainerStore;
 
         public:
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             const std::string& getTypeName() const
             {
-                return mTypeName;
+                return mPtr ? mPtr->mTypeName : sEmptyString;
             }
 
             template<typename T>
@@ -45,7 +46,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 mCellRef = &liveCellRef->mRef;
                 mRefData = &liveCellRef->mData;
                 mCell = cell;
-                mTypeName = typeid (T).name();
             }
 
             template<typename T>