diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomSettings.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomSettings.js
index 05116bc097..b62b72bf18 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomSettings.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomSettings.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ const BannedUser = React.createClass({
     propTypes: {
         canUnban: React.PropTypes.bool,
         member: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired, // js-sdk RoomMember
-        by: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired, // js-sdk RoomMember
+        by: React.PropTypes.string.isRequired,
         reason: React.PropTypes.string,
     },
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ const BannedUser = React.createClass({
         return (
             <li>
                 { unbanButton }
-                <span title={_t("Banned by %(displayName)s (%(userId)s)", {displayName: this.props.by.name, userId: this.props.by.userId})}>
+                <span title={_t("Banned by %(displayName)s", {displayName: this.props.by})}>
                     <strong>{this.props.member.name}</strong> {this.props.member.userId}
                     {this.props.reason ? " " +_t('Reason') + ": " + this.props.reason : ""}
                 </span>
@@ -673,7 +673,9 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                     <ul className="mx_RoomSettings_banned">
                         {banned.map(function(member) {
                             const banEvent = member.events.member.getContent();
-                            const bannedBy = self.props.room.getMember(member.events.member.getSender());
+                            const sender = self.props.room.getMember(member.events.member.getSender());
+                            let bannedBy = member.events.member.getSender(); // start by falling back to mxid
+                            if (sender) bannedBy = sender.name;
                             return (
                                 <BannedUser key={member.userId} canUnban={canBanUsers} member={member} reason={banEvent.reason} by={bannedBy} />
                             );
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index 9e5524d80c..f6edae19a9 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@
     "This will allow you to reset your password and receive notifications.": "This will allow you to reset your password and receive notifications.",
     "To return to your account in future you need to set a password": "To return to your account in future you need to set a password",
     "Skip": "Skip",
-    "Banned by %(displayName)s (%(userId)s)": "Banned by %(displayName)s (%(userId)s)",
+    "Banned by %(displayName)s": "Banned by %(displayName)s",
     "Start verification": "Start verification",
     "Share without verifying": "Share without verifying",
     "Ignore request": "Ignore request",
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_US.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_US.json
index 93b3e88332..fccf387f30 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_US.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_US.json
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@
     "Desktop specific": "Desktop specific",
     "Analytics": "Analytics",
     "Opt out of analytics": "Opt out of analytics",
-    "Banned by %(displayName)s (%(userId)s)": "Banned by %(displayName)s (%(userId)s)",
+    "Banned by %(displayName)s": "Banned by %(displayName)s",
     "Options": "Options",
     "Riot collects anonymous analytics to allow us to improve the application.": "Riot collects anonymous analytics to allow us to improve the application.",
     "Passphrases must match": "Passphrases must match",