diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 721fd914..1bc9431e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+* #1953: Retrieve friends' nicks from the profile. (tomeu)
+
 Snapshot aa6a024368
 
 * #1825: Fix tab label padding. (marco)
diff --git a/shell/model/BuddyModel.py b/shell/model/BuddyModel.py
index 75c044ac..9f86e57e 100644
--- a/shell/model/BuddyModel.py
+++ b/shell/model/BuddyModel.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class BuddyModel(gobject.GObject):
                                     ([gobject.TYPE_PYOBJECT]))
     }
 
-    def __init__(self, key=None, buddy=None):
+    def __init__(self, key=None, buddy=None, nick=None):
         if (key and buddy) or (not key and not buddy):
             raise RuntimeError("Must specify only _one_ of key or buddy.")
 
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ class BuddyModel(gobject.GObject):
         self._pservice = presenceservice.get_instance()
 
         self._buddy = None
-        self._nick = None
 
         # If given just a key, try to get the buddy from the PS first
         if not buddy:
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ class BuddyModel(gobject.GObject):
             self._key = key
             # Set color to 'inactive'/'disconnected'
             self._set_color_from_string(_NOT_PRESENT_COLOR)
-            self._name = "Unknown buddy"
+            self._nick = nick
 
     def _set_color_from_string(self, color_string):
         self._color = XoColor(color_string)
diff --git a/shell/model/Friends.py b/shell/model/Friends.py
index 23ce94a8..2b7d6bfd 100644
--- a/shell/model/Friends.py
+++ b/shell/model/Friends.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Friends(gobject.GObject):
                     # HACK: don't screw up on old friends files
                     if len(key) < 20:
                         continue
-                    buddy = BuddyModel(key=key)
+                    buddy = BuddyModel(key=key, nick=cp.get(key, 'nick'))
                     self.add_friend(buddy)
         except Exception, exc:
             logging.error("Error parsing friends file: %s" % exc)