diff --git a/components/openmw-mp/Packets/BasePacket.hpp b/components/openmw-mp/Packets/BasePacket.hpp
index 8dd964a03..e02d9ed02 100644
--- a/components/openmw-mp/Packets/BasePacket.hpp
+++ b/components/openmw-mp/Packets/BasePacket.hpp
@@ -80,11 +80,17 @@ namespace mwmp
         {
             if (write)
             {
-                RakNet::RakString rstr("%s", str.c_str());
                 if (compress)
-                    rstr.SerializeCompressed(bs);
+                {
+                    if (!str.empty())
+                        RakNet::RakString::SerializeCompressed(str.c_str(), bs);
+                }
                 else
+                {
+                    RakNet::RakString rstr;
+                    rstr = str.c_str();
                     bs->Write(rstr);
+                }
             }
             else
             {