diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/translator/protocol/bedrock/BedrockTextTranslator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/translator/protocol/bedrock/BedrockTextTranslator.java
index 1a6771cc5..91ed5aa2b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/translator/protocol/bedrock/BedrockTextTranslator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/translator/protocol/bedrock/BedrockTextTranslator.java
@@ -40,11 +40,8 @@ public class BedrockTextTranslator extends PacketTranslator<TextPacket> {
     public void translate(GeyserSession session, TextPacket packet) {
         String message = packet.getMessage();
 
-        if (message.isBlank()) {
-            // Java Edition (as of 1.17.1) just doesn't pass on these messages, so... we won't either!
-            return;
-        }
-
+        // The order here is important - strip out illegal characters first, then check if it's blank
+        // (in case the message is blank after removing)
         if (message.indexOf(ChatColor.ESCAPE) != -1) {
             // Filter out all escape characters - Java doesn't let you type these
             StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
@@ -57,6 +54,11 @@ public class BedrockTextTranslator extends PacketTranslator<TextPacket> {
             message = builder.toString();
         }
 
+        if (message.isBlank()) {
+            // Java Edition (as of 1.17.1) just doesn't pass on these messages, so... we won't either!
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (MessageTranslator.isTooLong(message, session)) {
             return;
         }