--- src/dm/impls/plex/plexexodusii.c.org	2022-06-23 08:59:10.000000000 -0600
+++ src/dm/impls/plex/plexexodusii.c	2022-06-23 09:15:37.000000000 -0600
@@ -1597,6 +1597,11 @@
       PetscStackCallStandard(ex_get_side_set_node_list,exoid, fs_id[fs], fs_vertex_count_list, fs_vertex_list);
       /* Get the specific name associated with this side set ID. */
       int fs_name_err = ex_get_name(exoid, EX_SIDE_SET, fs_id[fs], fs_name);
+      size_t fs_name_len;
+      PetscCall(PetscStrlen(fs_name, &fs_name_len));
+      if (fs_name_len == 0)
+        PetscCall(PetscSNPrintf(fs_name, MAX_STR_LENGTH, "%d", fs_id[fs]));
+
       for (f = 0, voff = 0; f < num_side_in_set; ++f) {
         const PetscInt *faces   = NULL;
         PetscInt       faceSize = fs_vertex_count_list[f], numFaces;