diff --git a/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js b/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
index b9de813e4..7aa637540 100644
--- a/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
+++ b/libtextsecure/message_receiver.js
@@ -977,6 +977,8 @@ MessageReceiver.prototype.extend({
       if (!plaintext) {
         window.log.warn('handleContentMessage: plaintext was falsey');
         return null;
+      } else if (plaintext instanceof ArrayBuffer && plaintext.byteLength === 0) {
+        return null;
       }
       return this.innerHandleContentMessage(envelope, plaintext);
     });