diff --git a/actions/editapplication.php b/actions/editapplication.php
index 9cc3e3cead..029b622e84 100644
--- a/actions/editapplication.php
+++ b/actions/editapplication.php
@@ -179,6 +179,9 @@ class EditApplicationAction extends OwnerDesignAction
         } elseif (mb_strlen($name) > 255) {
             $this->showForm(_('Name is too long (max 255 chars).'));
             return;
+        } else if ($this->nameExists($name)) {
+            $this->showForm(_('Name already in use. Try another one.'));
+            return;
         } elseif (empty($description)) {
             $this->showForm(_('Description is required.'));
             return;
@@ -260,5 +263,26 @@ class EditApplicationAction extends OwnerDesignAction
         common_redirect(common_local_url('oauthappssettings'), 303);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Does the app name already exist?
+     *
+     * Checks the DB to see someone has already registered and app
+     * with the same name.
+     *
+     * @param string $name app name to check
+     *
+     * @return boolean true if the name already exists
+     */
+
+    function nameExists($name)
+    {
+        $newapp = Oauth_application::staticGet('name', $name);
+        if (!$newapp) {
+            return false;
+        } else {
+            return $newapp->id != $this->app->id;
+        }
+    }
+
 }
 
diff --git a/actions/newapplication.php b/actions/newapplication.php
index c499fe7c76..ba1cca5c92 100644
--- a/actions/newapplication.php
+++ b/actions/newapplication.php
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ class NewApplicationAction extends OwnerDesignAction
         if (empty($name)) {
              $this->showForm(_('Name is required.'));
              return;
+        } else if ($this->nameExists($name)) {
+            $this->showForm(_('Name already in use. Try another one.'));
+            return;
         } elseif (mb_strlen($name) > 255) {
             $this->showForm(_('Name is too long (max 255 chars).'));
             return;
@@ -273,5 +276,22 @@ class NewApplicationAction extends OwnerDesignAction
 
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Does the app name already exist?
+     *
+     * Checks the DB to see someone has already registered and app
+     * with the same name.
+     *
+     * @param string $name app name to check
+     *
+     * @return boolean true if the name already exists
+     */
+
+    function nameExists($name)
+    {
+        $app = Oauth_application::staticGet('name', $name);
+        return ($app !== false);
+    }
+
 }
 
diff --git a/classes/statusnet.ini b/classes/statusnet.ini
index e28424ce2a..a535159e80 100644
--- a/classes/statusnet.ini
+++ b/classes/statusnet.ini
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ notice_id = K
 id = 129
 owner = 129
 consumer_key = 130
-name = 130
+name = 2
 description = 2
 icon = 130
 source_url = 2
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ modified = 384
 
 [oauth_application__keys]
 id = N
+name = U
 
 [oauth_application_user]
 profile_id = 129
diff --git a/db/statusnet.sql b/db/statusnet.sql
index 17de4fd0d4..71a6e724ca 100644
--- a/db/statusnet.sql
+++ b/db/statusnet.sql
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ create table oauth_application (
     id integer auto_increment primary key comment 'unique identifier',
     owner integer not null comment 'owner of the application' references profile (id),
     consumer_key varchar(255) not null comment 'application consumer key' references consumer (consumer_key),
-    name varchar(255) not null comment 'name of the application',
+    name varchar(255) unique key comment 'name of the application',
     description varchar(255) comment 'description of the application',
     icon varchar(255) not null comment 'application icon',
     source_url varchar(255) comment 'application homepage - used for source link',