diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
index 535f5652096..5fdecc9895a 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from frappe.utils import (
 	now_datetime,
 	nowtime,
 	strip,
+	strip_html,
 )
 from frappe.utils.html_utils import clean_html
 
@@ -69,10 +70,6 @@ class Item(Document):
 		self.item_code = strip(self.item_code)
 		self.name = self.item_code
 
-	def before_insert(self):
-		if not self.description:
-			self.description = self.item_name
-
 	def after_insert(self):
 		"""set opening stock and item price"""
 		if self.standard_rate:
@@ -86,7 +83,7 @@ class Item(Document):
 		if not self.item_name:
 			self.item_name = self.item_code
 
-		if not self.description:
+		if not strip_html(cstr(self.description)).strip():
 			self.description = self.item_name
 
 		self.validate_uom()
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
index 328d937f318..8dd35d769f9 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
@@ -744,6 +744,13 @@ class TestItem(FrappeTestCase):
 		self.assertTrue(get_data(warehouse="_Test Warehouse - _TC"))
 		self.assertTrue(get_data(item_group="All Item Groups"))
 
+	def test_empty_description(self):
+		item = make_item(properties={"description": "<p></p>"})
+		self.assertEqual(item.description, item.item_name)
+		item.description = ""
+		item.save()
+		self.assertEqual(item.description, item.item_name)
+
 
 def set_item_variant_settings(fields):
 	doc = frappe.get_doc("Item Variant Settings")