diff --git a/main/lorcomm.c b/main/lorcomm.c
index 1b4a378..ec7de2a 100644
--- a/main/lorcomm.c
+++ b/main/lorcomm.c
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ void lorcomm_handle_receive(uint8_t size) {
 
     memcpy(msg->msg, buf + LORA_PACKET_HEADER_SIZE + LORA_MSG_HEADER_SIZE, msg->length);
 
+    // if the msg doesnt end in NULL it's probably already corrupt
+    // just go ahead and terminate it
+    if(msg->msg[msg->length] != '\0')
+      msg->msg[msg->length] == '\0';
+
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "msg (len: %d): %s", msg->length, msg->msg);
 
     free(msg->msg);