diff --git a/src/Protocol/OStatus.php b/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
index 7052205e17..551b4ad887 100644
--- a/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
+++ b/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ class OStatus
 		$header["origin"] = 0;
 		$header["gravity"] = GRAVITY_COMMENT;
 
-		if (!is_object($doc->firstChild)) {
+		if (!is_object($doc->firstChild) || empty($doc->firstChild->tagName)) {
 			return false;
 		}