diff --git a/stimela/kitchen/cab.py b/stimela/kitchen/cab.py
index ddd02da..06091f8 100644
--- a/stimela/kitchen/cab.py
+++ b/stimela/kitchen/cab.py
@@ -129,16 +129,24 @@ def __post_init__ (self):
             else:
                 raise CabValidationError(f"cab {self.name}: invalid image setting")
 
+        # setup wranglers
+        self._wranglers = []
+        for pattern, actions in self.management.wranglers.items():
+            self._wranglers.append(wranglers.create_list(pattern, actions))
+
+        # check flavours
+        self.flavour = flavours.init_cab_flavour(self)
+
         # set name from command or image
         if self.name is None:
             self.name = self.command or self.image
-            
+
         # split off first word of name to avoid non-alphanumeric characters
         match = re.match("(\w+)", self.name)
         if match:
-            self.name = match.group(1)
+            self.name = match.group(1) or self.flavour.kind
         else:
-            self.name = "unnamed"
+            self.name = self.flavour.kind
 
         # check backend setting
         if self.backend:
@@ -147,14 +155,6 @@ def __post_init__ (self):
             except OmegaConfBaseException as exc:
                 raise CabValidationError(f"cab {self.name}: invalid backend setting", exc)
 
-        # setup wranglers
-        self._wranglers = []
-        for pattern, actions in self.management.wranglers.items():
-            self._wranglers.append(wranglers.create_list(pattern, actions))
-
-        # check flavours
-        self.flavour = flavours.init_cab_flavour(self)
-
 
     def summary(self, params=None, recursive=True, ignore_missing=False):
         lines = [f"cab {self.name}:"]