diff --git a/src/Service/RisingTideGateway.php b/src/Service/RisingTideGateway.php
index 2a01799c..0a4ba1aa 100644
--- a/src/Service/RisingTideGateway.php
+++ b/src/Service/RisingTideGateway.php
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ class RisingTideGateway
         // at this point, assume that mobile is numeric and valid mobile number
         $clean_num = $this->cleanPhoneNumber($mobile_num);
 
-        if ($clean_num != '')
+        if ($clean_num == false)
+            error_log('Invalid mobile number provided. Cannot send SMS message to ' . $mobile_num);
+        else
         {
             $headers = [
                 'Content-Type: application/vnd.net.wyrls.Document-v3+json'
@@ -89,8 +91,6 @@ class RisingTideGateway
 
             error_log($result);
         }
-        else
-            error_log('Invalid mobile number provided. Cannot send SMS message.');
     }
 
     public function validatePhoneNumber($mobile)
@@ -151,6 +151,6 @@ class RisingTideGateway
             return $clean_number;
         }
 
-        return "";
+        return false;
     }
 }