diff --git a/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var.cpp b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var.cpp
index c36ade1ac6..53e00fd816 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var.cpp
@@ -131,9 +131,11 @@ AP_Var::~AP_Var(void)
 void AP_Var::copy_name(char *buffer, size_t buffer_size) const
 {
     buffer[0] = '\0';
-    if (_group)
-        _group->copy_name(buffer, buffer_size);
-    strlcat_P(buffer, _name, buffer_size);
+    if (_name) {
+        if (_group)
+            _group->copy_name(buffer, buffer_size);
+        strlcat_P(buffer, _name, buffer_size);
+    }
 }
 
 // Find a variable by name.
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var_menufuncs.cpp b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var_menufuncs.cpp
index 217eca7bc9..61d2706cad 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var_menufuncs.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Common/AP_Var_menufuncs.cpp
@@ -111,10 +111,16 @@ AP_Var_menu_show(uint8_t argc, const Menu::arg *argv)
         for (vp = AP_Var::first(); vp; vp = vp->next()) {
             char    name_buffer[32];
 
+            // groups should not be displayed
+            if (vp->meta_type_id() == AP_Var::k_typeid_group) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             // get a displayable name for the variable
             vp->copy_name(name_buffer, sizeof(name_buffer));
             if (name_buffer[0] == 0) {
-                strcpy_P(name_buffer, PSTR("??"));
+                // without a name the variable is not displayable
+                continue;
             }
 
             // print name and value