diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/RegionProtectionListener.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/RegionProtectionListener.java
index e298b254..4989a109 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/RegionProtectionListener.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/RegionProtectionListener.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ private void tellErrorMessage(DelegateEvent event, Cause cause, Location locatio
             if (lastTime == null || now - lastTime >= LAST_MESSAGE_DELAY) {
                 RegionQuery query = getPlugin().getRegionContainer().createQuery();
                 String message = query.queryValue(location, player, DefaultFlag.DENY_MESSAGE);
-                if (message != null) {
+                if (message != null && !message.isEmpty()) {
                     player.sendMessage(message.replace("%what%", what));
                 }
                 WGMetadata.put(player, DENY_MESSAGE_KEY, now);