diff --git a/xpra/net/websockets/protocol.py b/xpra/net/websockets/protocol.py
index 2d174f89cb..17cbd9616c 100644
--- a/xpra/net/websockets/protocol.py
+++ b/xpra/net/websockets/protocol.py
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ def parse_ws_frame(self, buf: SizedBuffer) -> None:
                     self.ws_payload.append(payload)
                     continue
             if opcode == OPCODE.BINARY:
+                if not full_payload:
+                    log.warn("Warning: empty websocket binary payload")
+                    continue
                 self._read_queue_put(full_payload)
             elif opcode == OPCODE.TEXT:
                 if first_time(f"ws-text-frame-from-{self._conn}"):