diff --git a/services/xmppsService.go b/services/xmppsService.go
index bf3358f..44b40b6 100644
--- a/services/xmppsService.go
+++ b/services/xmppsService.go
@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ func handleMessage(s xmpp.Sender, p stanza.Packet) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if len(msg.Body) == 0 {
+		log.Printf("<%v> received empty message, and will not respond", msg.To)
+		return
+	}
+
 	log.Printf("<%v> received following message: %v", msg.To, msg.Body)
 	statusMesageDelay := int64(rand.Intn(appConfig.AppConfig.GeneralOptions.StatusMessageDelay))
 	log.Printf("DELAYING FOR: %v", statusMesageDelay*1000000000)