diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NetworkMesh.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NetworkMesh.cpp
index 8d5319cf0c3..da4a053b314 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NetworkMesh.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NetworkMesh.cpp
@@ -484,6 +484,13 @@ class CSignalingClient : public ISignalingClient
 					std::vector<uint8_t> signalData = pendingSignals.front();
 					pendingSignals.pop();
 
+					// Validate payload is not empty to prevent crashes in OpenSSL CMP validation
+					if (signalData.empty())
+					{
+						NetworkLog(ELogVerbosity::LOG_RELEASE, "[SIGNAL] Warning: Skipping empty signal data");
+						continue;
+					}
+
 					// Setup a context object that can respond if this signal is a connection request.
 					struct Context : ISteamNetworkingSignalingRecvContext
 					{
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/OnlineServices_RoomsInterface.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/OnlineServices_RoomsInterface.cpp
index 11f938ecf16..a24b75f855a 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/OnlineServices_RoomsInterface.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/OnlineServices_RoomsInterface.cpp
@@ -961,7 +961,15 @@ void WebSocket::Tick()
 										{
 											NetworkLog(ELogVerbosity::LOG_RELEASE, "[SIGNAL] Signal User: %lld!", signalData.target_user_id);
 											NetworkLog(ELogVerbosity::LOG_RELEASE, "[SIGNAL] Signal Payload Size: %d!", (int)signalData.payload.size());
-											m_pendingSignals.push(signalData.payload);
+											// Validate payload is not empty to prevent crashes in OpenSSL CMP validation
+											if (signalData.payload.size() > 0)
+											{
+												m_pendingSignals.push(signalData.payload);
+											}
+											else
+											{
+												NetworkLog(ELogVerbosity::LOG_RELEASE, "[SIGNAL] Warning: Ignoring empty signal payload from user %lld", signalData.target_user_id);
+											}
 										}
 									}
 									break;
@@ -1361,4 +1369,4 @@ void NGMP_OnlineServices_RoomsInterface::OnRosterUpdated(std::vector<std::string
 	{
 		m_RosterNeedsRefreshCallback();
 	}
-}
+}