diff --git a/stoat_map_notifications/python/main.py b/stoat_map_notifications/python/main.py
index 88c0afc..373104b 100644
--- a/stoat_map_notifications/python/main.py
+++ b/stoat_map_notifications/python/main.py
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ def send_post_notify_message_to_stoat(list_of_people_to_notify, infomap):
         list_of_people_to_notify = json.loads(list_of_people_to_notify)
     except:
         #in case it fails there should be nobody to notify
-        return
+        list_of_people_to_notify = []
+        pass
     #print('list_of_people_to_notify: ', list_of_people_to_notify)
     for people in list_of_people_to_notify:
         if not people or people == "[]": continue