diff --git a/src/svxlink/ChangeLog b/src/svxlink/ChangeLog
index d9a4c070..4231e35c 100644
--- a/src/svxlink/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/svxlink/ChangeLog
@@ -151,6 +151,8 @@
 * The AUTOACTIVATE_ON_SQL logic linking configuration variable has been
   renamed to ACTIVATE_ON_ACTIVITY.
 
+* Bugfix in reflector authentication.
+
 
 
  1.7.0 -- 01 Sep 2019
diff --git a/src/svxlink/reflector/ReflectorClient.cpp b/src/svxlink/reflector/ReflectorClient.cpp
index 51cb1b16..2922043f 100644
--- a/src/svxlink/reflector/ReflectorClient.cpp
+++ b/src/svxlink/reflector/ReflectorClient.cpp
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ void ReflectorClient::handleMsgAuthResponse(std::istream& is)
   }
 
   string auth_key = lookupUserKey(msg.callsign());
-  if (msg.verify(auth_key, m_auth_challenge))
+  if (!auth_key.empty() && msg.verify(auth_key, m_auth_challenge))
   {
     vector<string> connected_nodes;
     m_reflector->nodeList(connected_nodes);
diff --git a/src/versions b/src/versions
index ce03a3c2..84b02d5a 100644
--- a/src/versions
+++ b/src/versions
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@ DEVCAL=1.0.2.99.2
 SVXSERVER=0.0.6
 
 # Version for SvxReflector
-SVXREFLECTOR=1.99.7
+SVXREFLECTOR=1.99.8