diff --git a/ARControl/ARControl.csproj b/ARControl/ARControl.csproj
index 030bb84..02882da 100644
--- a/ARControl/ARControl.csproj
+++ b/ARControl/ARControl.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
     <PropertyGroup>
         <TargetFramework>net7.0-windows</TargetFramework>
-        <Version>3.1</Version>
+        <Version>3.2</Version>
         <LangVersion>11.0</LangVersion>
         <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
         <CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>true</CopyLocalLockFileAssemblies>
diff --git a/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.Sync.cs b/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.Sync.cs
index 59a7107..55453c1 100644
--- a/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.Sync.cs
+++ b/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.Sync.cs
@@ -44,9 +44,13 @@ partial class AutoRetainerControlPlugin
                 save = true;
             }
 
+            // remove retainers without name
+            save |= character.Retainers.RemoveAll(x => string.IsNullOrEmpty(x.Name)) > 0;
+
             // migrate legacy retainers
             foreach (var legacyRetainer in character.Retainers.Where(x => x.RetainerContentId == 0))
             {
+                _pluginLog.Information($"Migrating retainer '{legacyRetainer.Name}' (char: {character})");
                 var retainerData =
                     offlineCharacterData.RetainerData.SingleOrDefault(x => legacyRetainer.Name == x.Name);
                 if (retainerData != null)
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ partial class AutoRetainerControlPlugin
             }
 
             List<ulong> unknownRetainerIds = offlineCharacterData.RetainerData.Select(x => x.RetainerID).Where(x => x != 0).ToList();
-            foreach (var retainerData in offlineCharacterData.RetainerData)
+            foreach (var retainerData in offlineCharacterData.RetainerData.Where(x => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(x.Name)))
             {
                 unknownRetainerIds.Remove(retainerData.RetainerID);
 
diff --git a/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.cs b/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.cs
index 413be3d..7665b06 100644
--- a/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.cs
+++ b/ARControl/AutoRetainerControlPlugin.cs
@@ -74,7 +74,18 @@ public sealed partial class AutoRetainerControlPlugin : IDalamudPlugin
         });
 
         if (_autoRetainerApi.Ready)
-            Sync();
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                Sync();
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                _pluginLog.Error(e, "Unable to sync characters");
+                _chatGui.PrintError(
+                    "Unable to synchronize characters with AutoRetainer, plugin might not work properly.");
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     private void SendRetainerToVenture(string retainerName)