diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchMessageBuilder.cpp b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchMessageBuilder.cpp
index b245c7664..389027004 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchMessageBuilder.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchMessageBuilder.cpp
@@ -625,6 +625,12 @@ void TwitchMessageBuilder::appendTwitchEmote(
 
 Outcome TwitchMessageBuilder::tryAppendEmote(const EmoteName &name)
 {
+    // Special channels, like /whispers and /channels return here
+    // This means they will not render any BTTV or FFZ emotes
+    if (this->twitchChannel == nullptr) {
+        return Failure;
+    }
+
     auto flags = MessageElementFlags();
     auto emote = boost::optional<EmotePtr>{};