diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 81a8e82..0402a07 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use std::net::{IpAddr, Ipv6Addr, SocketAddr};
 
 use camino::{Utf8Path, Utf8PathBuf};
 use log::debug;
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize};
 use xmpp::jid::{BareJid, ResourcePart};
 
 use crate::error::Error;
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ pub struct Config {
 
 	/// Nickname to use in rooms
 	#[serde(default = "Config::default_nickname")]
+	#[serde(deserialize_with = "Config::owned_nickname")]
 	pub nickname: ResourcePart,
 
 	/// Secret that matches the one provided to the Webhook service
@@ -57,6 +58,16 @@ impl Config {
 		ResourcePart::new("cusku").unwrap().into()
 	}
 
+	pub fn owned_nickname<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<ResourcePart, D::Error>
+	where
+		D: Deserializer<'de>,
+	{
+		let s = String::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+		Ok(ResourcePart::new(&s)
+			.map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)?
+			.into_owned())
+	}
+
 	pub fn default_addr() -> SocketAddr {
 		SocketAddr::new(IpAddr::V6(Ipv6Addr::new(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1)), 3000)
 	}