diff --git a/lib/irc.js b/lib/irc.js
index 0b6e9dc..d942539 100644
--- a/lib/irc.js
+++ b/lib/irc.js
@@ -115,8 +115,13 @@ IRC.prototype.start = function () {
 
                 // log file creation
                 response.on('end', function () {
-                    var json = JSON.parse(body);
-                    __self.streaming = json.stream !== null;
+                    var json = null;
+                    try {
+                        json = JSON.parse(body);
+                        __self.streaming = json.stream !== null;
+                    } catch (err) {
+                        __self.streaming = false;
+                    }
                     if (__self.streaming && !__self.new_file) {
                         // prevent another file from being created while streaming
                         __self.new_file = true;
@@ -137,6 +142,7 @@ IRC.prototype.start = function () {
                         file.open(__self.log, 'w');
                     } else if (!__self.streaming) {
                         __self.new_file = false;
+                        __self.log = '';
                     }
                     setTimeout(stream_status, 1000);
                 });