diff --git a/network/rounds/retrieve.go b/network/rounds/retrieve.go
index ca8100e76a6845973c0c5ca4a43ed23f38a844eb..06c4a2fdfc663ebf98c142432f605d3b97065d9d 100644
--- a/network/rounds/retrieve.go
+++ b/network/rounds/retrieve.go
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ func (m *Manager) processMessageRetrieval(comms messageRetrievalComms,
 					ri.ID, err)
 				break
 			}
-			bundle.Identity = rl.identity
+
 			if len(bundle.Messages) != 0 {
+				bundle.Identity = rl.identity
 				m.messageBundles <- bundle
 			}
 		}