diff --git a/lib/service.c b/lib/service.c
index e04358e6a..43b3b4201 100644
--- a/lib/service.c
+++ b/lib/service.c
@@ -1073,6 +1073,8 @@ lws_service_fd_tsi(struct lws_context *context, struct lws_pollfd *pollfd, int t
 				c = lws_token_to_string(m);
 				if (!c)
 					break;
+				if (!(*c))
+					break;
 
 				len = lws_hdr_total_length(wsi, m);
 				if (!len || len > sizeof(buf) - 1) {