diff --git a/libsignal/service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/signalservice/api/SignalServiceMessageSender.java b/libsignal/service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/signalservice/api/SignalServiceMessageSender.java
index 73bdddcd9c..f87c792ac4 100644
--- a/libsignal/service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/signalservice/api/SignalServiceMessageSender.java
+++ b/libsignal/service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/signalservice/api/SignalServiceMessageSender.java
@@ -656,7 +656,10 @@ public class SignalServiceMessageSender {
       stickerBuilder.setPackId(ByteString.copyFrom(message.getSticker().get().getPackId()));
       stickerBuilder.setPackKey(ByteString.copyFrom(message.getSticker().get().getPackKey()));
       stickerBuilder.setStickerId(message.getSticker().get().getStickerId());
-      stickerBuilder.setEmoji(message.getSticker().get().getEmoji());
+
+      if (message.getSticker().get().getEmoji() != null) {
+        stickerBuilder.setEmoji(message.getSticker().get().getEmoji());
+      }
 
       if (message.getSticker().get().getAttachment().isStream()) {
         stickerBuilder.setData(createAttachmentPointer(message.getSticker().get().getAttachment().asStream()));