diff --git a/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js b/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
index 70193421bd..c97c0bb901 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
+++ b/src/wp-admin/js/updates.js
@@ -2144,7 +2144,11 @@
 				return;
 			}
 
-			message = $.parseJSON( originalEvent.data );
+			try {
+				message = $.parseJSON( originalEvent.data );
+			} catch ( e ) {
+				return;
+			}
 
 			if ( 'undefined' === typeof message.action ) {
 				return;