diff --git a/lib/aprs/aprs_kiss.rb b/lib/aprs/aprs_kiss.rb
index 5d7841df9afa707e2077ddae72ab21e8585458f2..e1d05bed54749ed1e08844f6c08834f9cc68390f 100644
--- a/lib/aprs/aprs_kiss.rb
+++ b/lib/aprs/aprs_kiss.rb
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ module Aprs
         def read(*args, **kwargs)
             @lock.synchronize do
                 frame = @data_stream.read(*args, **kwargs)
-                if frame&.length
+                if frame and frame.length > 0
                     return AprsKiss.decode_frame(frame)
                 else
                     return nil