diff --git a/src/xmpp/message.c b/src/xmpp/message.c
index 6924b509..3254f568 100644
--- a/src/xmpp/message.c
+++ b/src/xmpp/message.c
@@ -931,29 +931,33 @@ _handle_conference(xmpp_stanza_t* const stanza)
 {
     xmpp_stanza_t* xns_conference = xmpp_stanza_get_child_by_ns(stanza, STANZA_NS_CONFERENCE);
 
-    const char* from = xmpp_stanza_get_from(stanza);
-    if (!from) {
-        log_warning("Message received with no from attribute, ignoring");
-        return;
-    }
+    if (xns_conference) {
 
-    Jid* jidp = jid_create(from);
-    if (!jidp) {
-        return;
-    }
+        const char* from = xmpp_stanza_get_from(stanza);
+        if (!from) {
+            log_warning("Message received with no from attribute, ignoring");
+            return;
+        }
 
-    // XEP-0249
-    const char* room = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_JID);
-    if (!room) {
+        Jid* jidp = jid_create(from);
+        if (!jidp) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // XEP-0249
+        const char* room = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_JID);
+        if (!room) {
+            jid_destroy(jidp);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // reason and password are both optional
+        const char* reason = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_REASON);
+        const char* password = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_PASSWORD);
+
+        sv_ev_room_invite(INVITE_DIRECT, jidp->barejid, room, reason, password);
         jid_destroy(jidp);
-        return;
     }
-
-    const char* reason = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_REASON);
-    const char* password = xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xns_conference, STANZA_ATTR_PASSWORD);
-
-    sv_ev_room_invite(INVITE_DIRECT, jidp->barejid, room, reason, password);
-    jid_destroy(jidp);
 }
 
 static void