diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
index 1416562b96..777f9ae9b9 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/chat-input.js
@@ -194,6 +194,10 @@ export class ChatInput extends Component {
   messageSubmit() {
     const { props, state } = this;
 
+    if (state.message === '') {
+      return;
+    }
+
     let message = {
       uid: uuid(),
       aut: window.ship,
diff --git a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
index b4c011e77c..4910ac0a12 100644
--- a/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
+++ b/pkg/interface/chat/src/js/components/lib/message.js
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ export class Message extends Component {
   }
 
   renderLin(content, action = false) {
+    if (content === '') {
+      return null;
+    }
     //TODO remove once arvo:// urls are supported in url speeches
     if (content.indexOf('arvo://') === 0) {
       return this.renderUrl(content);