diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index 18dc057..60ba49b 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     /// Offset within message was not 32-bit aligned 
     InvalidOffsetAlignment(u32),
 
+    /// Invalid number of tags specified 
+    InvalidNumTags(u32),
+
     /// Otherwise invalid request
     InvalidRequest,
 }
diff --git a/src/message.rs b/src/message.rs
index 8766a8c..05c9768 100644
--- a/src/message.rs
+++ b/src/message.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ impl RtMessage {
         let mut msg = Cursor::new(bytes);
 
         let num_tags = msg.read_u32::<LittleEndian>()?;
+        if num_tags == 0 {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidNumTags(0));
+        }
+
         let mut rt_msg = RtMessage::new(num_tags);
 
         if num_tags == 1 {