diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.svelte b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.svelte
index b040f18..d236e47 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.svelte
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@
 
     const sendMessage = async () => {
         messageTextarea.focus();
-        const content = messageInput;
+        const content = messageInput.trim();
 
-        if (content.trim() === "" || !userInfoStore.value)
+        if (!content.length || !userInfoStore.value)
             return;
 
         // optimistically add message to store