diff --git a/htroot/yacy/message.java b/htroot/yacy/message.java
index 94b52d74e..b941dfecb 100644
--- a/htroot/yacy/message.java
+++ b/htroot/yacy/message.java
@@ -121,8 +121,15 @@ public final class message {
             yacySeed otherSeed = yacySeed.genRemoteSeed(otherSeedString, key, true);
 
             String subject = crypt.simpleDecode(post.get("subject", ""), key); // message's subject
+            subject = subject.trim();
             String message = crypt.simpleDecode(post.get("message", ""), key); // message body
-
+            message = message.trim();
+            
+            if (subject.length() == 0 && message.length() == 0) {
+                prop.put("response", "-1"); // don't accept empty messages
+                return prop;
+            }
+            
             prop.put("response", "Thank you!");
 
             // save message