diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index f80993ffb658..130e687540d9 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -12902,12 +12902,16 @@ void QgisApp::removeWebToolBarIcon( QAction *qAction )
 
 void QgisApp::updateCrsStatusBar()
 {
-  if ( QgsProject::instance()->crs().isValid() )
+  const QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem projectCrs = QgsProject::instance()->crs();
+  if ( projectCrs.isValid() )
   {
-    mOnTheFlyProjectionStatusButton->setText( QgsProject::instance()->crs().authid() );
+    if ( !projectCrs.authid().isEmpty() )
+      mOnTheFlyProjectionStatusButton->setText( projectCrs.authid() );
+    else
+      mOnTheFlyProjectionStatusButton->setText( QObject::tr( "Unknown CRS" ) );
 
     mOnTheFlyProjectionStatusButton->setToolTip(
-      tr( "Current CRS: %1" ).arg( QgsProject::instance()->crs().userFriendlyIdentifier() ) );
+      tr( "Current CRS: %1" ).arg( projectCrs.userFriendlyIdentifier() ) );
     mOnTheFlyProjectionStatusButton->setIcon( QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( QStringLiteral( "mIconProjectionEnabled.svg" ) ) );
   }
   else