diff --git a/language.version b/language.version
index d9e80dbbe..3de62ec0b 100644
--- a/language.version
+++ b/language.version
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [default]
-SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r1164 \cu(Wed Jan 15 13:44:56 CET 2025)\c-";
-SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r1164 \cu(2025-01-15 13:44:56)\c-";
+SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r1165 \cu(Wed Jan 15 13:48:46 CET 2025)\c-";
+SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r1165 \cu(2025-01-15 13:48:46)\c-";
diff --git a/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc b/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
index aca64e3df..57be661a8 100644
--- a/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
+++ b/zscript/hud/swwm_hud_messages.zsc
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			// don't forget to log to console, like gzdoom itself does
 			// (also, account for potential unterminated color escapes)
 			// PS: avoid duplicate message spam, too
-			if ( msg == lastmidstr ) return true;
+			if ( (msg == lastmidstr) || (msg == "") ) return true;
 			Console.PrintfEx(PRINT_HIGH|PRINT_NONOTIFY,
 				"----------------------------------------\n"
 				.."%s\c-\n"
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ extend Class SWWMStatusBar
 			// don't forget to log to console, like gzdoom itself does
 			// (also, account for potential unterminated color escapes)
 			// PS: avoid duplicate message spam, too
-			if ( msg == lastmidstr ) return true;
+			if ( (msg == lastmidstr) || (msg == "") ) return true;
 			Console.PrintfEx(PRINT_HIGH|PRINT_NONOTIFY,
 				"----------------------------------------\n"
 				.."%s\c-\n"