diff --git a/src/flake8/processor.py b/src/flake8/processor.py
index 8490092..2757e8f 100644
--- a/src/flake8/processor.py
+++ b/src/flake8/processor.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class FileProcessor(object):
         # type: () -> List[str]
         """Read the lines for this file checker."""
         if self.filename is None or self.filename == '-':
-            self.filename = self.options.stdin_display_name
+            self.filename = self.options.stdin_display_name or 'stdin'
             lines = self.read_lines_from_stdin()
         else:
             lines = self.read_lines_from_filename()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_file_processor.py b/tests/unit/test_file_processor.py
index 001a6ba..c534003 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_file_processor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_file_processor.py
@@ -86,6 +86,18 @@ def test_read_lines_uses_display_name(stdin_get_value):
     assert file_processor.filename == 'display_name.py'
 
 
+@mock.patch('flake8.utils.stdin_get_value')
+def test_read_lines_ignores_empty_display_name(stdin_get_value):
+    """Verify that when processing stdin we use a display name if present."""
+    stdin_value = mock.Mock()
+    stdin_value.splitlines.return_value = []
+    stdin_get_value.return_value = stdin_value
+    file_processor = processor.FileProcessor('-', options_from(
+        stdin_display_name=''
+    ))
+    assert file_processor.filename == 'stdin'
+
+
 def test_line_for():
     """Verify we grab the correct line from the cached lines."""
     file_processor = processor.FileProcessor('-', options_from(), lines=[