diff --git a/mastodon_email_bridge/mastodon_email_bridge.py b/mastodon_email_bridge/mastodon_email_bridge.py
index 600a1b5..f99372e 100755
--- a/mastodon_email_bridge/mastodon_email_bridge.py
+++ b/mastodon_email_bridge/mastodon_email_bridge.py
@@ -271,6 +271,8 @@ class MastodonEmailBridge:
         return result
 
     def _translate(self, text, source_language='auto', destination_language=None):
+        if text == '':
+            return ''
         if destination_language is None:
             destination_language = self.config['destination_language']
         data = {