diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/backup/v2/exporters/ContactArchiveExporter.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/backup/v2/exporters/ContactArchiveExporter.kt
index 4c90fc677f..5fdd26f936 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/backup/v2/exporters/ContactArchiveExporter.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/backup/v2/exporters/ContactArchiveExporter.kt
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import org.signal.core.util.requireBoolean
 import org.signal.core.util.requireInt
 import org.signal.core.util.requireLong
 import org.signal.core.util.requireString
+import org.signal.libsignal.usernames.BaseUsernameException
+import org.signal.libsignal.usernames.Username
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.backup.v2.ArchiveRecipient
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.backup.v2.proto.Contact
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.backup.v2.proto.Self
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class ContactArchiveExporter(private val cursor: Cursor, private val selfId: Lon
     val contactBuilder = Contact.Builder()
       .aci(aci?.rawUuid?.toByteArray()?.toByteString())
       .pni(pni?.rawUuid?.toByteArray()?.toByteString())
-      .username(cursor.requireString(RecipientTable.USERNAME))
+      .username(cursor.requireString(RecipientTable.USERNAME).takeIf { isValidUsername(it) })
       .e164(cursor.requireString(RecipientTable.E164)?.e164ToLong())
       .blocked(cursor.requireBoolean(RecipientTable.BLOCKED))
       .visibility(Recipient.HiddenState.deserialize(cursor.requireInt(RecipientTable.HIDDEN)).toRemote())
@@ -144,3 +146,16 @@ private fun String.e164ToLong(): Long? {
 
   return fixed.toLongOrNull()?.takeUnless { it == 0L }
 }
+
+private fun isValidUsername(username: String?): Boolean {
+  if (username.isNullOrBlank()) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  return try {
+    Username(username)
+    true
+  } catch (e: BaseUsernameException) {
+    false
+  }
+}