diff --git a/src/main/java/in/dragonbra/javasteam/util/HardwareUtils.java b/src/main/java/in/dragonbra/javasteam/util/HardwareUtils.java
index 048c9b9b..2a69f5d8 100644
--- a/src/main/java/in/dragonbra/javasteam/util/HardwareUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/in/dragonbra/javasteam/util/HardwareUtils.java
@@ -33,7 +33,12 @@ public static byte[] getMachineID() {
             SERIAL_NUMBER = getSerialNumberUnix();
         }
 
-        return SERIAL_NUMBER == null ? new byte[0] : SERIAL_NUMBER.getBytes();
+        // if SERIAL_NUMBER still was null
+        if(SERIAL_NUMBER == null) {
+            SERIAL_NUMBER = "JavaSteam-SerialNumber";
+        }
+
+        return SERIAL_NUMBER.getBytes();
     }
 
     private static String getSerialNumberWin() {