diff --git a/i3pystatus/shell.py b/i3pystatus/shell.py
index e97a3cb..54a1d93 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/shell.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/shell.py
@@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ class Shell(IntervalModule):
             color = self.error_color
 
         out = out.decode("UTF-8").replace("\n", " ")
-
-        if out[-1] == " ":
-            out = out[:-1]
+        try:
+            if out[-1] == " ":
+                out = out[:-1]
+        except:
+            out = ""
 
         self.output = {
             "full_text": out,