diff --git a/handler/agora.py b/handler/agora.py
index 0997cef..9f6f0b3 100644
--- a/handler/agora.py
+++ b/handler/agora.py
@@ -170,6 +170,9 @@ class Agora(object):
         messages = self.agora.recent_messages()
         if not messages["success"]:
             return False
+        if not "data" in messages["response"]:
+            self.log.error("Data not in messages response: {content}", content=messages["response"])
+            return False
         open_tx = self.tx.get_ref_map().keys()
         for message in messages["response"]["data"]["message_list"]:
             contact_id = message["contact_id"]