diff --git a/files/helpers/sanitize.py b/files/helpers/sanitize.py
index 9c5ae1947..5bb7b9880 100644
--- a/files/helpers/sanitize.py
+++ b/files/helpers/sanitize.py
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ def handle_youtube_links(url):
 @with_sigalrm_timeout(10)
 def sanitize(sanitized, golden=True, limit_pings=0, showmore=True, count_emojis=False, snappy=False, chat=False, blackjack=None):
 	sanitized = sanitized.strip()
+	if not sanitized: return ''
 
 	if blackjack and execute_blackjack(g.v, None, sanitized, blackjack):
 		sanitized = 'g'