diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 717f5fe..a2fb451 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 *bak*
 tags
 *.vim
+debug.txt
 
 ## Files related to minetest development cycle
 *.patch
diff --git a/mods/random_messages/init.lua b/mods/random_messages/init.lua
index 317e867..d3a3871 100644
--- a/mods/random_messages/init.lua
+++ b/mods/random_messages/init.lua
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ function random_messages.read_messages()
 end
 
 function random_messages.display_message(message_number)
-	if random_messages.messages[message_number] then
-		minetest.chat_send_all(random_messages.messages[message_number])
+	local msg = random_messages.messages[message_number] or message_number
+	if msg then
+		minetest.chat_send_all(msg)
 	end
 end