diff --git a/gamespy/gs_query.py b/gamespy/gs_query.py
index 493737a..d39de9f 100644
--- a/gamespy/gs_query.py
+++ b/gamespy/gs_query.py
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ def parse_gamespy_message(message):
     messages = {}
     msg = message
 
+    if len(msg) == 0 or msg[0] != '\\':
+        # bad command, return nothing
+        return "", ""
+
     while len(msg) > 0 and msg[0] == '\\' and "\\final\\" in msg:
         # Find the command
         # Don't search for more commands if there isn't a \final\, save the left over for the next packet