diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 7af4be40f..ba81e9d24 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: keys.Startup, Val: true}
 
 	// setup mqtt publisher
-	if err == nil && conf.Mqtt.Broker != "" {
+	if err == nil && conf.Mqtt.Broker != "" && conf.Mqtt.Topic != "" {
 		var mqtt *server.MQTT
 		mqtt, err = server.NewMQTT(strings.Trim(conf.Mqtt.Topic, "/"), site)
 		if err == nil {