diff --git a/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java b/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
index a0153aa35aed..cbfe858b2dad 100644
--- a/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
+++ b/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ public class ProtocolParser {
     final String name = readString(reader, "name", "");
     final int stopReason = readInt(reader, "stop_reason", 0);
     String message = readString(reader, "message", "None");
-    if ("None".equals(message)) {
+    if ("None".equals(message) || message.isEmpty()) {
       message = null;
     }