diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index e954e65..4ce5cda 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
     <groupId>lol.hyper</groupId>
     <artifactId>toolstats</artifactId>
-    <version>1.8.5</version>
+    <version>1.8.6</version>
     <packaging>jar</packaging>
 
     <name>ToolStats</name>
diff --git a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/CraftItem.java b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/CraftItem.java
index 17f05b4..1610c31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/CraftItem.java
+++ b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/CraftItem.java
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ public class CraftItem implements Listener {
         // if the player shift clicks, send them this warning
         if (event.isShiftClick()) {
             Component component = toolStats.configTools.formatLore("shift-click-warning.crafting", null, null);
-            event.getWhoClicked().sendMessage(component);
+            if (component != null) {
+                event.getWhoClicked().sendMessage(component);
+            }
         }
 
         // test the item before setting it
diff --git a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/VillagerTrade.java b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/VillagerTrade.java
index 4eef005..0488ff5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/VillagerTrade.java
+++ b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/events/VillagerTrade.java
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ public class VillagerTrade implements Listener {
                 // if the player shift clicks, show the warning
                 if (event.isShiftClick()) {
                     Component component = toolStats.configTools.formatLore("shift-click-warning.trading", null, null);
-                    event.getWhoClicked().sendMessage(component);
+                    if (component != null) {
+                        event.getWhoClicked().sendMessage(component);
+                    }
                 }
                 ItemStack newItem = addLore(item, player);
                 if (newItem != null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/tools/config/ConfigTools.java b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/tools/config/ConfigTools.java
index d556bc5..e1a1548 100644
--- a/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/tools/config/ConfigTools.java
+++ b/src/main/java/lol/hyper/toolstats/tools/config/ConfigTools.java
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ public class ConfigTools {
     public Component formatLore(String configName, String placeHolder, Object value) {
         String lore = toolStats.config.getString("messages." + configName);
         if (lore == null) {
+            toolStats.logger.warning("Unable to find config message for: messages." + configName);
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        // if the config message is empty, don't send it
+        if (lore.isEmpty()) {
             return null;
         }