diff --git a/light9/web/SyncedGraph.ts b/light9/web/SyncedGraph.ts
--- a/light9/web/SyncedGraph.ts
+++ b/light9/web/SyncedGraph.ts
@@ -156,12 +156,12 @@ export class SyncedGraph {
       log("not connected-- dropping patch");
       return;
     }
-    if (patch.isEmpty()) throw "should not get to this point with empty patch";
-
-    this._applyPatch(patch);
-    if (this.client) {
-      log("sending patch:\n", patch.dump());
-      this.client.sendPatch(patch);
+    if (!patch.isEmpty()) {
+      this._applyPatch(patch);
+      if (this.client) {
+        log("sending patch:\n", patch.dump());
+        this.client.sendPatch(patch);
+      }
     }
     console.timeEnd("applyAndSendPatch");
   }