diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
index 881af882..7023e7d4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class ThreadActivity : SimpleActivity() {
         ensureBackgroundThread {
             val cachedMessagesCode = messages.hashCode()
             messages = getMessages(threadId)
-            if (messages.hashCode() == cachedMessagesCode) {
+            if (messages.hashCode() == cachedMessagesCode && participants.isNotEmpty()) {
                 return@ensureBackgroundThread
             }