diff --git a/bots/modules/channel_helper.py b/bots/modules/channel_helper.py
index 84667b4..ec17e32 100644
--- a/bots/modules/channel_helper.py
+++ b/bots/modules/channel_helper.py
@@ -270,9 +270,14 @@ class QueuedItem(models.Model):
             message_ids.append(self.message_id)
         if self.message_ids_extra:
             message_ids.extend(int(i) for i in self.message_ids_extra.split('|') if i.isdigit())
+        try:
+            args = json.loads(self.args)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            args = []
+        file_id = args[0] if args else None
         return {
             'type': self.type,
-            'file_id': json.loads(self.args)[0],
+            'file_id': file_id,
             'message_ids': message_ids,
             'processed': self.processed,
             'datetime': self.datetime.isoformat(),