diff --git a/server/models/workspaceAgentInvocation.js b/server/models/workspaceAgentInvocation.js
index 376d6273112e124fce980a95f7ab956aeab73d27..4ef56e40e2c9e0a8eedf9bd8eadaae36a0c1c885 100644
--- a/server/models/workspaceAgentInvocation.js
+++ b/server/models/workspaceAgentInvocation.js
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@ const { v4: uuidv4 } = require("uuid");
 
 const WorkspaceAgentInvocation = {
   // returns array of strings with their @ handle.
+  // must start with @
   parseAgents: function (promptString) {
+    if (!promptString.startsWith("@")) return [];
     return promptString.split(/\s+/).filter((v) => v.startsWith("@"));
   },