diff --git a/xC.c b/xC.c
index fe32773..1574cfb 100644
--- a/xC.c
+++ b/xC.c
@@ -11547,10 +11547,11 @@ handle_command_alias (struct handler_args *a)
 	if (!*a->arguments)
 		return show_aliases_list (a->ctx);
 
-	// TODO: validate the name; maybe also while loading configuration
 	char *name = cut_word (&a->arguments);
 	if (!*a->arguments)
 		return false;
+	if (*name == '/')
+		name++;
 
 	struct config_item *alias = config_item_string_from_cstr (a->arguments);