diff --git a/src/api/client_server/presence.rs b/src/api/client_server/presence.rs
index 3c62c9d5..066de1cc 100644
--- a/src/api/client_server/presence.rs
+++ b/src/api/client_server/presence.rs
@@ -49,9 +49,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_presence_route(body: Ruma<get_presence::v3::Request>) ->
 	}
 
 	if let Some(presence) = presence_event {
+		let status_msg = if presence
+			.content
+			.status_msg
+			.as_ref()
+			.is_some_and(String::is_empty)
+		{
+			None
+		} else {
+			presence.content.status_msg
+		};
+
 		Ok(get_presence::v3::Response {
 			// TODO: Should ruma just use the presenceeventcontent type here?
-			status_msg: presence.content.status_msg,
+			status_msg,
 			currently_active: presence.content.currently_active,
 			last_active_ago: presence
 				.content
diff --git a/src/database/key_value/presence.rs b/src/database/key_value/presence.rs
index c123a339..17068f90 100644
--- a/src/database/key_value/presence.rs
+++ b/src/database/key_value/presence.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use ruma::{events::presence::PresenceEvent, presence::PresenceState, OwnedUserId, UInt, UserId};
-use tracing::debug;
 
 use crate::{
 	database::KeyValueDatabase,
+	debug_info,
 	service::{self, presence::Presence},
 	services,
 	utils::{self, user_id_from_bytes},
@@ -50,13 +50,21 @@ impl service::presence::Data for KeyValueDatabase {
 
 		// tighten for state flicker?
 		if !state_changed && last_active_ts <= last_last_active_ts {
-			debug!(
+			debug_info!(
 				"presence spam {:?} last_active_ts:{:?} <= {:?}",
-				user_id, last_active_ts, last_last_active_ts
+				user_id,
+				last_active_ts,
+				last_last_active_ts
 			);
 			return Ok(());
 		}
 
+		let status_msg = if status_msg.as_ref().is_some_and(String::is_empty) {
+			None
+		} else {
+			status_msg
+		};
+
 		let presence = Presence::new(
 			presence_state.to_owned(),
 			currently_active.unwrap_or(false),