diff --git a/streaming/index.js b/streaming/index.js
index 5be548cb0c..b31da1fa7a 100644
--- a/streaming/index.js
+++ b/streaming/index.js
@@ -801,8 +801,8 @@ const startServer = async () => {
 
       // reference_texts property is not working if ProcessReferencesWorker is
       // used on PostStatusService and so on. (Asynchronous processing)
-      const reference_texts = payload.reference_texts || [];
-      if (payload.reference_texts) {
+      const reference_texts = payload?.reference_texts || [];
+      if (payload && typeof payload.reference_texts !== 'undefined') {
         delete payload.reference_texts;
       }