diff --git a/file/lib/data/message/MessageAction.class.php b/file/lib/data/message/MessageAction.class.php
index a3b2425..5e6d534 100644
--- a/file/lib/data/message/MessageAction.class.php
+++ b/file/lib/data/message/MessageAction.class.php
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public function validateSend() {
 		
 		// read parameters
 		$this->readString('text');
-		$this->readBoolean('enableSmilies');
+		$this->readBoolean('enableSmilies', true);
 		$this->parameters['text'] = MessageUtil::stripCrap($this->parameters['text']);
 		$this->parameters['enableHTML'] = false;