diff --git a/lib/XMPPtoForm.php b/lib/XMPPtoForm.php
index 9eb59c948..1b74473fb 100644
--- a/lib/XMPPtoForm.php
+++ b/lib/XMPPtoForm.php
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ class XMPPtoForm{
                 $textarea->nodeValue .= $value . "\n";
             }
         }
+
+        if(empty($textarea->nodeValue)) {
+            $textarea->nodeValue = ' ';
+        }
         
         $container->appendChild($textarea);