diff --git a/nvflare/private/fed/utils/fed_utils.py b/nvflare/private/fed/utils/fed_utils.py
index 7bb43be35a..3867e64261 100644
--- a/nvflare/private/fed/utils/fed_utils.py
+++ b/nvflare/private/fed/utils/fed_utils.py
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ def get_target_names(targets):
             continue
 
         if name not in target_names:
-            target_names.append(t)
+            target_names.append(name)
     return target_names
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_test/private/fed/utils/fed_utils_test.py b/tests/unit_test/private/fed/utils/fed_utils_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ed266d58b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_test/private/fed/utils/fed_utils_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from typing import List, Union
+
+import pytest
+
+from nvflare.apis.client import Client
+from nvflare.private.fed.utils.fed_utils import get_target_names
+
+TARGET_NAMES_TEST_CASES = [
+    (
+        [Client("site-1", None), Client("site-2", None), Client("site-3", None)],
+        ["site-1", "site-2", "site-3"],
+    ),
+    (
+        ["site-1", "site-2", "site-3"],
+        ["site-1", "site-2", "site-3"],
+    ),
+    (
+        [Client("site-1", None), "site-2", Client("site-3", None)],
+        ["site-1", "site-2", "site-3"],
+    ),
+    (
+        [Client("", None), "", Client("site-3", None)],
+        ["site-3"],
+    ),
+]
+
+
+class TestFedUtils:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("targets, target_names", TARGET_NAMES_TEST_CASES)
+    def test_get_target_names(self, targets: List[Union[str, Client]], target_names: List[str]):
+        assert get_target_names(targets) == target_names