diff --git a/lib/nntp/tiny/message.py b/lib/nntp/tiny/message.py
index 64ea003..c0f9673 100644
--- a/lib/nntp/tiny/message.py
+++ b/lib/nntp/tiny/message.py
@@ -11,11 +11,17 @@ def decode(text: str):
     decoded = decode_header(text)[0]
 
     if decoded[1] is None:
+        if decoded[0] == b'':
+            return ''
+
         return str(decoded[0])
 
     try:
         return str(decoded[0], decoded[1])
     except:
+        if decoded[0] == b'':
+            return ''
+
         return str(decoded[0])
 
 def each_line(text: str):