diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/loki/protocol/ClosedGroupUpdateMessageSendJob.kt b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/loki/protocol/ClosedGroupUpdateMessageSendJob.kt
index da527c5f87..7d7aa28032 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/loki/protocol/ClosedGroupUpdateMessageSendJob.kt
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/loki/protocol/ClosedGroupUpdateMessageSendJob.kt
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class ClosedGroupUpdateMessageSendJob private constructor(parameters: Parameters
                 "New" -> {
                     val name = data.getString("name")
                     val groupPrivateKey = data.getByteArray("groupPrivateKey")
-                    val senderKeys = data.getString("senderKeys").split(" - ").map { ClosedGroupSenderKey.fromJSON(it)!! }
+                    val senderKeys = data.getStringOrDefault("senderKeys","").split(" - ").mapNotNull { ClosedGroupSenderKey.fromJSON(it) } // Can be empty
                     val members = data.getString("members").split(" - ").map { Hex.fromStringCondensed(it) }
                     val admins = data.getString("admins").split(" - ").map { Hex.fromStringCondensed(it) }
                     kind = Kind.New(groupPublicKey, name, groupPrivateKey, senderKeys, members, admins)