diff --git a/src/java/com/google/android/mms/pdu/PduParser.java b/src/java/com/google/android/mms/pdu/PduParser.java
index b42a9fd..6dabc76 100755
--- a/src/java/com/google/android/mms/pdu/PduParser.java
+++ b/src/java/com/google/android/mms/pdu/PduParser.java
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@
         assert(-1 != temp);
         int first = temp & 0xFF;
         if (first == 0) {
-            return null;    //  Blank subject, bail.
+            return new EncodedStringValue("");
         }
 
         pduDataStream.reset();