diff --git a/gossamer_forums.rb b/gossamer_forums.rb
index 82c4c15..065558a 100644
--- a/gossamer_forums.rb
+++ b/gossamer_forums.rb
@@ -489,6 +489,22 @@ def import_personal_messages
 
     # Skip if the message already exists
     unless TopicCustomField.exists?(name: 'original_gossamer_msg_id', value: row['msg_id'])
+
+      # Sanitize the message, ensuring we have an empty string or the content without any \0
+      sanitized_message = row['msg_body']&.tr("\0", '') || ""
+
+      # Set default message body if the sanitized message is blank
+      sanitized_message = " " if sanitized_message.strip.empty?
+
+#     # If we do not change the "min personal message post length" to 1, we need this.
+#     sanitized_message = sanitized_message.ljust(10, ' ') if sanitized_message.length < 10
+
+     # Check and set a default title if the original title is nil or empty
+      title = row['msg_subject']&.strip
+      title = "<no subject>" if title.nil? || title.empty?
+
+      puts "IMPORTING   title  #{row['msg_subject']}  user_id  #{from_user_id}  to_user_id  #{to_user_id}"
+
       # Create a private message topic in Discourse
       topic = Topic.create!(
         title: row['msg_subject'],
@@ -501,7 +517,6 @@ def import_personal_messages
       topic.save!
 
       # Create the message as a post in the private topic
-      sanitized_message = row['msg_body']&.tr("\0", '') || ""
       post = Post.create!(
         topic_id: topic.id,
         user_id: from_user_id,