diff --git a/examples/web-chat/src/MessageInput.tsx b/examples/web-chat/src/MessageInput.tsx
index 78f3fae..86b0f4c 100644
--- a/examples/web-chat/src/MessageInput.tsx
+++ b/examples/web-chat/src/MessageInput.tsx
@@ -23,13 +23,14 @@ export default function MessageInput(props: Props) {
   const [isActive, setActiveButton] = useState<boolean>(false);
 
   const onMessage = async () => {
-    if (props.sendMessage) {
+    if (props.sendMessage && inputText) {
       await props.sendMessage(inputText);
       setInputText("");
     }
   };
 
   const onChange = (event: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    event.preventDefault();
     setInputText(event.target.value);
   };
 
diff --git a/examples/web-chat/src/Room.tsx b/examples/web-chat/src/Room.tsx
index d661fa2..432f567 100644
--- a/examples/web-chat/src/Room.tsx
+++ b/examples/web-chat/src/Room.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export default function Room(props: Props) {
   const { storePeers, filterPeers, lightPushPeers } = usePeers({ node });
 
   const onSend = async (text: string) => {
-    if (!onPush) {
+    if (!onPush || !text) {
       return;
     }