diff --git a/conversations.php b/conversations.php
index 5e5f38f..b97116e 100644
--- a/conversations.php
+++ b/conversations.php
@@ -2441,7 +2441,14 @@
                                     }
                                 } else if (!existingMedia && newMediaUrl) {
                                     // No existing media element, render new media block without touching other parts
-                                    try { body.innerHTML = window.renderMediaMessage ? window.renderMediaMessage(msg) : window.escapeHtml(msg.content || '[Mensaje]'); } catch(e) { /* ignore */ }
+                                    try {
+                                    body.innerHTML = window.renderMediaMessage ? window.renderMediaMessage(msg) : window.escapeHtml(msg.content || '[Mensaje]');
+                                    // If after inserting media/text the body appears empty, replace with placeholder
+                                    if ((body.textContent || '').trim() === '') {
+                                        body.innerHTML = '<em>(Mensaje sin texto)</em>';
+                                        console.warn('Post-update: media/text produced empty body, set placeholder for', msg && (msg.id || msg.message_id));
+                                    }
+                                } catch(e) { /* ignore */ }
                                 } else if (existingMedia && !newMediaUrl) {
                                     // Media removed in new message: replace body with text/content
                                     try { body.innerHTML = window.escapeHtml(msg.content || '[Mensaje]'); } catch(e) { /* ignore */ }
@@ -2476,9 +2483,19 @@
                                 replyHtml = `<div class="reply-preview">En respuesta a: ${window.escapeHtml(previewText)}</div>`;
                             }
                             const mediaPresent = (msg.local_thumb || msg.local_file || msg.media_url_external || msg.media_url);
-                            const content = mediaPresent
+                            let content = mediaPresent
                                 ? (window.renderMediaMessage ? window.renderMediaMessage(msg) : (window.formatMessageContent ? window.formatMessageContent(msg.content || '[Mensaje]') : window.escapeHtml(msg.content || '[Mensaje]')))
-                                : (window.formatMessageContent ? window.formatMessageContent(msg.content || '[Mensaje vacío]') : window.escapeHtml(msg.content || '[Mensaje vacío]'));
+                                : (window.formatMessageContent ? window.formatMessageContent(msg.content || '') : window.escapeHtml(msg.content || ''));
+
+                            // If after formatting the content is empty (spaces or nothing), show a clearer placeholder
+                            try {
+                                const tmp = (content || '').replace(/<[^>]*>/g, '').trim(); // strip tags and check
+                                if (!tmp) {
+                                    console.warn('Rendered message content empty, replacing with placeholder', mid, msg.id, msg.created_at);
+                                    content = '<em>(Mensaje sin texto)</em>';
+                                }
+                            } catch (e) { /* ignore */ }
+
                             const time = msg.created_at ? new Date(msg.created_at).toLocaleTimeString('es-ES', { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' }) : '';
                             const statusIcon = this.getStatusIcon(msg.status);
                             const reactionHtml = msg.reaction_emoji ? `<div class="reaction-badge">${msg.reaction_emoji}</div>` : '';