diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/importer/util/ShortDOIService.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/importer/util/ShortDOIService.java
index 4c39290c0de..f18ed4e5ac0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/importer/util/ShortDOIService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/logic/importer/util/ShortDOIService.java
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ private JSONObject makeRequest(DOI doi) throws ShortDOIServiceException {
         URLDownload urlDownload = new URLDownload(url);
 
         try {
-            return JsonReader.toJsonObject(urlDownload.asInputStream());
+            JSONObject resultAsJSON = JsonReader.toJsonObject(urlDownload.asInputStream());
+            if (resultAsJSON.isEmpty()) {
+                throw new ShortDOIServiceException("Cannot get short DOI");
+            }
+            return resultAsJSON;
         } catch (ParseException | IOException | JSONException e) {
             throw new ShortDOIServiceException("Cannot get short DOI", e);
         }