diff --git a/modules/Markov.py b/modules/Markov.py
index f057b43..1570f4d 100644
--- a/modules/Markov.py
+++ b/modules/Markov.py
@@ -497,9 +497,13 @@ class Markov(Module):
         # chop off the seed data at the start
         gen_words = gen_words[2:]
 
-        # chop off the end text, if it was the keyword indicating an end of chain
-        if gen_words[-1] == self.stop:
-            gen_words = gen_words[:-1]
+        if len(gen_words):
+            # chop off the end text, if it was the keyword indicating an end of chain
+            if gen_words[-1] == self.stop:
+                gen_words = gen_words[:-1]
+        else:
+            self.log.warning("after all this we have an empty list of words. "
+                             "there probably isn't any data for this context")
 
         return ' '.join(gen_words)
 
@@ -616,10 +620,12 @@ class Markov(Module):
         # check for addresses (the "whoever:" in
         # __start1 __start2 whoever: some words)
         addressing_suffixes = [':', ',']
-        if chain[2][-1] in addressing_suffixes and avoid_address:
+        if len(chain) > 2 and chain[2][-1] in addressing_suffixes and avoid_address:
             return chain[3:]
-        else:
+        elif len(chain) > 2:
             return chain[2:]
+        else:
+            return []
 
     def _get_chatter_targets(self):
         """Get all possible chatter targets."""