diff --git a/mailstream/mailstream.php b/mailstream/mailstream.php
index 9910a63df..ec4ff3ae4 100644
--- a/mailstream/mailstream.php
+++ b/mailstream/mailstream.php
@@ -317,6 +317,11 @@ function mailstream_subject(array $item): string
 		]);
 		return DI::l10n()->t("Friendica post");
 	}
+	$contact = $r[0];
+	if (!DBA::isResult($rows)) {
+		Logger::error('mailstream_subject no contact for item id ' . $item['id'] . ' plink ' . $item['plink'] . ' contact id ' . $item['contact-id'] . ' uid ' . $item['uid']);
+		return DI::l10n()->t("Friendica post");
+	}
 	if ($contact['network'] === 'dfrn') {
 		return DI::l10n()->t("Friendica post");
 	}