diff --git a/aws/cfn/bridge/runner.py b/aws/cfn/bridge/runner.py
index 0dafb94..67bc009 100644
--- a/aws/cfn/bridge/runner.py
+++ b/aws/cfn/bridge/runner.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def retrieve_events(self, max_events=1):
                                                     max_number_of_messages=max_events)
 
         # Swallow up any errors/issues, logging them out
-        if http_response.status_code != 200 or not "Messages" in response_data:
+        if http_response.status_code != 200:
             log.error(u"Failed to retrieve messages from queue %s with status_code %s: %s" %
                       (self._queue_url, http_response.status_code, response_data))
             return []