diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index e26497555..ee7d63101 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -6690,6 +6690,7 @@ object you are working with still exists.
 * `set_inventory_formspec(formspec)`
     * Redefine player's inventory form
     * Should usually be called in `on_joinplayer`
+    * If `formspec` is `""`, the player's inventory is disabled.
 * `get_inventory_formspec()`: returns a formspec string
 * `set_formspec_prepend(formspec)`:
     * the formspec string will be added to every formspec shown to the user,
diff --git a/src/client/game.cpp b/src/client/game.cpp
index 739409761..853a52ecf 100644
--- a/src/client/game.cpp
+++ b/src/client/game.cpp
@@ -2060,15 +2060,22 @@ void Game::openInventory()
 	InventoryLocation inventoryloc;
 	inventoryloc.setCurrentPlayer();
 
-	if (!client->modsLoaded()
-			|| !client->getScript()->on_inventory_open(fs_src->m_client->getInventory(inventoryloc))) {
-		TextDest *txt_dst = new TextDestPlayerInventory(client);
-		auto *&formspec = m_game_ui->updateFormspec("");
-		GUIFormSpecMenu::create(formspec, client, m_rendering_engine->get_gui_env(),
-			&input->joystick, fs_src, txt_dst, client->getFormspecPrepend(), sound);
-
-		formspec->setFormSpec(fs_src->getForm(), inventoryloc);
+	if (client->modsLoaded() && client->getScript()->on_inventory_open(fs_src->m_client->getInventory(inventoryloc))) {
+		delete fs_src;
+		return;
 	}
+
+	if (fs_src->getForm().empty()) {
+		delete fs_src;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	TextDest *txt_dst = new TextDestPlayerInventory(client);
+	auto *&formspec = m_game_ui->updateFormspec("");
+	GUIFormSpecMenu::create(formspec, client, m_rendering_engine->get_gui_env(),
+		&input->joystick, fs_src, txt_dst, client->getFormspecPrepend(), sound);
+
+	formspec->setFormSpec(fs_src->getForm(), inventoryloc);
 }