diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
index 2a5a2cc15..b22c4cc03 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ def get_by_id_or_ap_id(id) do
       end
   end
 
+  def get_replied_to_activity(""), do: nil
+
   def get_replied_to_activity(id) when not is_nil(id) do
     Repo.get(Activity, id)
   end
diff --git a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
index 42a43f129..938d556c7 100644
--- a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -198,6 +198,21 @@ test "replying to a status", %{conn: conn} do
     assert activity.data["object"]["inReplyToStatusId"] == replied_to.id
   end
 
+  test "posting a status with an invalid in_reply_to_id", %{conn: conn} do
+    user = insert(:user)
+
+    conn =
+      conn
+      |> assign(:user, user)
+      |> post("/api/v1/statuses", %{"status" => "xD", "in_reply_to_id" => ""})
+
+    assert %{"content" => "xD", "id" => id} = json_response(conn, 200)
+
+    activity = Repo.get(Activity, id)
+
+    assert activity
+  end
+
   test "verify_credentials", %{conn: conn} do
     user = insert(:user)