diff --git a/lib/response.js b/lib/response.js
index 8133b1a..4df036b 100644
--- a/lib/response.js
+++ b/lib/response.js
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ function newNote (req, res, next) {
   var body = ''
   if (req.body && req.body.length > config.documentMaxLength) {
     return response.errorTooLong(res)
-  } else {
+  } else if (req.body) {
     body = req.body
   }
   body = body.replace(/[\r]/g, '')