diff --git a/src/cpp/kazMisc.cpp b/src/cpp/kazMisc.cpp
index 1fc1f97..0bb12c7 100644
--- a/src/cpp/kazMisc.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/kazMisc.cpp
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ kaz::base64Decode (string &content) {
     if (!isBase64 (c)) {
       content.resize (lastOK-content.begin ());
       LOG ("kazMisc::base64Decode bug: bad base64 format. (content: " << content << ")");
+      return;
     }
     buff [idx] = getBase64Val (c);
     if (++idx != 4)