diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneMoveHandler.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneMoveHandler.java
index 1aa0c5ff..b7e3cf20 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneMoveHandler.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/server/SceneMoveHandler.java
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class SceneMoveHandler extends AbstractSceneMoveHandler
             if (_version < model.version) {
                 updates = scmgr.getUpdates(_version);
             }
-            if (updates != null) {
+            if (updates != null && updates.length > 0) {
                 listener.moveSucceededWithUpdates(ploid, config, updates);
             } else {
                 listener.moveSucceededWithScene(ploid, config, model);