diff --git a/av98.py b/av98.py
index f74b532..fd5cfdb 100755
--- a/av98.py
+++ b/av98.py
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ you'll be able to transparently follow links to Gopherspace!""")
         self._debug("Response header: %s." % header)
 
         # Validate header
-        status, meta = header.split(maxsplit=1)
+        status, meta = header.split(maxsplit=1) if header[2:].strip() else (header[:2], "")
         if len(meta) > 1024 or len(status) != 2 or not status.isnumeric():
             f.close()
             raise RuntimeError("Received invalid header from server!")