diff --git a/rowers/management/commands/processemail.py b/rowers/management/commands/processemail.py
index f5b6c8f5..1d2424e4 100644
--- a/rowers/management/commands/processemail.py
+++ b/rowers/management/commands/processemail.py
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ def processattachment(rower, fileobj, title, uploadoptions,testing=False):
     except AttributeError:
         filename = fileobj[6:]
 
+    # test if file exists and is not empty
+    try:
+        with open(filename,'r') as fop:
+            line = fop.readline()
+    except IOError:
+        return 0
+        
     workoutid = [
         make_new_workout_from_email(rower, filename, title,testing=testing)
     ]
@@ -104,7 +111,10 @@ def get_from_address(message):
     else:
         body = message.get_body().splitlines()
 
-    first_line = body[0].lower()
+    try:
+        first_line = body[0].lower()
+    except IndexError:
+        first_line = ''
 
     if "quiske" in first_line:
         match = re.search(r'[\w\.-]+@[\w\.-]+', first_line)