diff --git a/Fltk/onelabGroup.cpp b/Fltk/onelabGroup.cpp
index 428e2a5c5eceab94cf680c18799d7c166e716e5b..e9a0e5465e9920aec4205ba89b531a26adee6ee1 100644
--- a/Fltk/onelabGroup.cpp
+++ b/Fltk/onelabGroup.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,11 @@ bool gmshLocalNetworkClient::receiveMessage(gmshLocalNetworkClient *master)
     return false;
   }
 
-  if(message == blank){
+  if(message == blank && !(type == GmshSocket::GMSH_PROGRESS ||
+                           type == GmshSocket::GMSH_INFO ||
+                           type == GmshSocket::GMSH_WARNING ||
+                           type == GmshSocket::GMSH_ERROR)){
+    // we should still allow blank msg strings to be sent
     Msg::Error("Abnormal server termination (blank message: client not stopped?)");
     return false;
   }