diff --git a/gameview.py b/gameview.py
index 3e1cda3..7055a9e 100644
--- a/gameview.py
+++ b/gameview.py
@@ -3470,7 +3470,7 @@ class GUI(QtGui.QWidget):
             self.presentedEvidence.hide()
             self.playObjectionSound(fChar.lower(), objectionMod)
 
-            emoteMod = int(self.mChatMessage[EMOTE_MOD])
+            emoteMod = int(self.mChatMessage[EMOTE_MOD]) if self.mChatMessage[EMOTE_MOD] else 0
             if emoteMod == 0:
                 self.mChatMessage[EMOTE_MOD] = 1