diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 0c6b35fab..f819587de 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 
 ## Fixes
 - `autolabor`: now unconditionally re-enables vanilla work details when the fort or the plugin is unloaded
+- ``dfhack.TranslateName()``: fixed crash on certain invalid names, which affected `warn-starving`
 
 ## Misc Improvements
 - `dig`: `digtype` command now has options to choose between designating only visible tiles or hidden tiles, as well as "auto" dig mode. Z-level options adjusted to allow choosing z-levels above, below, or the same as the cursor.
diff --git a/library/modules/Translation.cpp b/library/modules/Translation.cpp
index 282039c02..af06eeb49 100644
--- a/library/modules/Translation.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Translation.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,37 @@ void Translation::setNickname(df::language_name *name, std::string nick)
     }
 }
 
+static string translate_word(const df::language_name * name, size_t word_idx) {
+    CHECK_NULL_POINTER(name);
+
+    auto translation = vector_get(world->raws.language.translations, name->language);
+    if (!translation)
+        return "";
+
+    auto word = vector_get(translation->words, word_idx);
+    if (!word)
+        return "";
+
+    return *word;
+}
+
+static string translate_english_word(const df::language_name * name, size_t part_idx) {
+    CHECK_NULL_POINTER(name);
+
+    if (part_idx >= 7)
+        return "";
+
+    auto words = vector_get(world->raws.language.words, name->words[part_idx]);
+    if (!words)
+        return "";
+
+    df::part_of_speech part = name->parts_of_speech[part_idx];
+    if (part < df::part_of_speech::Noun || part > df::part_of_speech::VerbGerund)
+        return "";
+
+    return words->forms[part];
+}
+
 string Translation::TranslateName(const df::language_name * name, bool inEnglish, bool onlyLastPart)
 {
     CHECK_NULL_POINTER(name);
@@ -166,20 +197,20 @@ string Translation::TranslateName(const df::language_name * name, bool inEnglish
         {
             word.clear();
             if (name->words[0] >= 0)
-                word.append(*world->raws.language.translations[name->language]->words[name->words[0]]);
+                word.append(translate_word(name, name->words[0]));
             if (name->words[1] >= 0)
-                word.append(*world->raws.language.translations[name->language]->words[name->words[1]]);
+                word.append(translate_word(name, name->words[1]));
             addNameWord(out, word);
         }
         word.clear();
         for (int i = 2; i <= 5; i++)
             if (name->words[i] >= 0)
-                word.append(*world->raws.language.translations[name->language]->words[name->words[i]]);
+                word.append(translate_word(name, name->words[i]));
         addNameWord(out, word);
         if (name->words[6] >= 0)
         {
             word.clear();
-            word.append(*world->raws.language.translations[name->language]->words[name->words[6]]);
+            word.append(translate_word(name, name->words[6]));
             addNameWord(out, word);
         }
     }
@@ -189,9 +220,9 @@ string Translation::TranslateName(const df::language_name * name, bool inEnglish
         {
             word.clear();
             if (name->words[0] >= 0)
-                word.append(world->raws.language.words[name->words[0]]->forms[name->parts_of_speech[0]]);
+                word.append(translate_english_word(name, 0));
             if (name->words[1] >= 0)
-                word.append(world->raws.language.words[name->words[1]]->forms[name->parts_of_speech[1]]);
+                word.append(translate_english_word(name, 1));
             addNameWord(out, word);
         }
         if (name->words[2] >= 0 || name->words[3] >= 0 || name->words[4] >= 0 || name->words[5] >= 0)
@@ -201,10 +232,10 @@ string Translation::TranslateName(const df::language_name * name, bool inEnglish
             else
                 out.append("The");
         }
-        for (int i = 2; i <= 5; i++)
+        for (size_t i = 2; i <= 5; i++)
         {
             if (name->words[i] >= 0)
-                addNameWord(out, world->raws.language.words[name->words[i]]->forms[name->parts_of_speech[i]]);
+                addNameWord(out, translate_english_word(name, i));
         }
         if (name->words[6] >= 0)
         {
@@ -213,7 +244,7 @@ string Translation::TranslateName(const df::language_name * name, bool inEnglish
             else
                 out.append("Of");
 
-            addNameWord(out, world->raws.language.words[name->words[6]]->forms[name->parts_of_speech[6]]);
+            addNameWord(out, translate_english_word(name, 6));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/plugins/autoslab.cpp b/plugins/autoslab.cpp
index e78314bfd..82333c822 100644
--- a/plugins/autoslab.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autoslab.cpp
@@ -151,24 +151,6 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate(color_ostream &out)
     return CR_OK;
 }
 
-// Name functions taken from manipulator.cpp
-static std::string get_first_name(df::unit *unit)
-{
-    return Translation::capitalize(unit->name.first_name);
-}
-
-static std::string get_last_name(df::unit *unit)
-{
-    df::language_name name = unit->name;
-    std::string ret = "";
-    for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
-    {
-        if (name.words[i] >= 0)
-            ret += *world->raws.language.translations[name.language]->words[name.words[i]];
-    }
-    return Translation::capitalize(ret);
-}
-
 // Queue up a single order to engrave the slab for the given unit
 static void createSlabJob(df::unit *unit)
 {
@@ -212,7 +194,7 @@ static void checkslabs(color_ostream &out)
             )
         {
             createSlabJob(ghost);
-            auto fullName = get_first_name(ghost) + " " + get_last_name(ghost);
+            auto fullName = Translation::TranslateName(&ghost->name, false);
             out.print("Added slab order for ghost %s\n", fullName.c_str());
         }
     }