diff --git a/mopidy_iris/websocket.py b/mopidy_iris/websocket.py
index 8e74105c..5b6470f1 100755
--- a/mopidy_iris/websocket.py
+++ b/mopidy_iris/websocket.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 
 import tornado.ioloop, tornado.web, tornado.websocket, tornado.template
-import logging, uuid, subprocess, pykka
+import random, string, logging, uuid, subprocess, pykka
 from datetime import datetime
 from tornado.escape import json_encode, json_decode
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-        
+
+# generate random string
+def generateGuid(length):
+   return ''.join(random.choice(string.lowercase) for i in range(length))
         
 # digest a protocol header into it's id/name parts
 def digest_protocol( protocol ):
@@ -26,9 +29,9 @@ def digest_protocol( protocol ):
       
     # invalid, so just create a default connection, and auto-generate an ID
     except:
-		clientid = str(uuid.uuid4().hex)
-		connectionid = str(uuid.uuid4().hex)
-		username = str(uuid.uuid4().hex)
+		clientid = generateGuid(12)
+		connectionid = generateGuid(12)
+		username = 'Anonymous'
 		generated = True
     
     # construct our protocol object, and return
diff --git a/src/js/helpers.js b/src/js/helpers.js
index 7ccbfb1c..79156842 100755
--- a/src/js/helpers.js
+++ b/src/js/helpers.js
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ export let sizedImages = function( images ){
 	return sizes;
 }
 
-export let generateGuid = function(){
-	return 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx'.replace(/[xy]/g, function(c) {
+export let generateGuid = function(format = 'xxxxxxxxxxxx'){
+	return format.replace(/[xy]/g, function(c) {
 		var r = Math.random()*16|0, v = c == 'x' ? r : (r&0x3|0x8);
 		return v.toString(16);
 	});
diff --git a/src/js/services/pusher/middleware.js b/src/js/services/pusher/middleware.js
index 16122962..f45d99b8 100755
--- a/src/js/services/pusher/middleware.js
+++ b/src/js/services/pusher/middleware.js
@@ -90,11 +90,12 @@ const PusherMiddleware = (function(){
 
                 var state = store.getState();
                 var connection = {
-                    clientid: Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9),
+                    clientid: helpers.generateGuid(),
                     connectionid: helpers.generateGuid(),
-                    username: Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9)
+                    username: 'Anonymous'
                 }
                 if( state.pusher.username ) connection.username = state.pusher.username;
+                connection.username = connection.username.replace(/\W/g, '')
                 
                 socket = new WebSocket(
                     'ws://'+state.mopidy.host+':'+state.mopidy.port+'/iris/ws',
diff --git a/src/js/views/Settings.js b/src/js/views/Settings.js
index 290b0875..e9425453 100755
--- a/src/js/views/Settings.js
+++ b/src/js/views/Settings.js
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ class Settings extends React.Component{
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	handleUsernameChange(username){
+		this.setState({pusher_username: username.replace(/\W/g, '')})
+	}
+
 	renderConnectionStatus(service){
 		if( this.props[service].connected ){
 			return (
@@ -151,7 +155,7 @@ class Settings extends React.Component{
 							<div className="input">
 								<input 
 									type="text"
-									onChange={ e => this.setState({ pusher_username: e.target.value }) } 
+									onChange={e => this.handleUsernameChange(e.target.value)} 
 									onBlur={ e => this.props.pusherActions.setUsername(this.state.pusher_username) } 
 									value={ this.state.pusher_username } />
 							</div>