diff --git a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/LoginSessionHandler.java b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/LoginSessionHandler.java
index 15ee1b3bf..f8e5ff630 100644
--- a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/LoginSessionHandler.java
+++ b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/LoginSessionHandler.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadLocalRandom;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import net.kyori.text.Component;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ public class LoginSessionHandler implements MinecraftSessionHandler {
   private static final Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(LoginSessionHandler.class);
   private static final String MOJANG_HASJOINED_URL =
       "https://sessionserver.mojang.com/session/minecraft/hasJoined?username=%s&serverId=%s&ip=%s";
+  private static final Pattern VALID_MINECRAFT_USERNAME = Pattern.compile("^[a-zA-Z0-9_]{1,16}$");
 
   private final VelocityServer server;
   private final MinecraftConnection inbound;
@@ -71,6 +73,21 @@ public class LoginSessionHandler implements MinecraftSessionHandler {
 
   @Override
   public boolean handle(ServerLogin packet) {
+    // Disallow logins from invalid usernames.
+    if (server.getConfiguration().isOnlineMode()) {
+      // In online-mode, follow Mojang's username rules.
+      if (!VALID_MINECRAFT_USERNAME.matcher(packet.getUsername()).matches()) {
+        inbound.closeWith(Disconnect.create(VelocityMessages.INVALID_USERNAME));
+        return true;
+      }
+    } else {
+      // Offline mode accepts any username, as long as we don't exceed 16 characters.
+      if (packet.getUsername().length() > 16) {
+        inbound.closeWith(Disconnect.create(VelocityMessages.INVALID_USERNAME));
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+
     this.login = packet;
     if (inbound.getProtocolVersion().compareTo(MINECRAFT_1_13) >= 0) {
       playerInfoId = ThreadLocalRandom.current().nextInt();
diff --git a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/util/VelocityMessages.java b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/util/VelocityMessages.java
index 621003e4c..a6022b0b3 100644
--- a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/util/VelocityMessages.java
+++ b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/util/VelocityMessages.java
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ public class VelocityMessages {
       .of("No available servers", TextColor.RED);
   public static final Component ALREADY_CONNECTED = TextComponent
       .of("You are already connected to this proxy!", TextColor.RED);
+  public static final Component INVALID_USERNAME = TextComponent
+      .of("Trying to login with invalid username", TextColor.RED);
 
   private VelocityMessages() {
     throw new AssertionError();