diff --git a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/_meta.py b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/_meta.py
index 727651e4f..54ee23b4d 100644
--- a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/_meta.py
+++ b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/_meta.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 """Version and author"""
 
-__version__ = "0.3.2"
+__version__ = "0.3.3"
 __author__ = "Tom Schraitle <toms@suse.de>"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/checks/check_meta.py b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/checks/check_meta.py
index bf654d431..10ed04063 100644
--- a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/checks/check_meta.py
+++ b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/src/metadatavalidator/checks/check_meta.py
@@ -29,8 +29,14 @@ def check_meta_title(tree: etree._ElementTree,
             )
         return
 
+    # the meta[@name='title'] element exists, but must not be empty
+    if meta.text is None:
+        raise InvalidValueError(
+            f"Empty meta[@name='title'] element (line {meta.sourceline})."
+        )
+
     length = config.get("metadata", {}).get("meta_title_length", 55)
-    if len(meta.text) > length:
+    if meta.text is not None and len(meta.text) > length:
         raise InvalidValueError(
             f"Meta title is too long. Max length is {length} characters"
             f" (line {meta.sourceline})."
diff --git a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/tests/unit/checks/test_check_meta_title.py b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/tests/unit/checks/test_check_meta_title.py
index 029bdc194..6eeebc271 100644
--- a/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/tests/unit/checks/test_check_meta_title.py
+++ b/python-scripts/metadatavalidator/tests/unit/checks/test_check_meta_title.py
@@ -48,3 +48,11 @@ def test_check_optional_meta_title(tree):
     config = dict(metadata=dict(meta_title_required=False))
     assert check_meta_title(tree, config) is None
 
+def test_check_meta_title_empty(tree):
+    meta = D("meta", {"name": "title"})
+    appendnode(tree, meta)
+
+    with pytest.raises(InvalidValueError,
+                       match=r".*Empty meta\[@name='title'\] element.*"):
+        check_meta_title(tree, dict(metadata=dict(meta_title_length=10,
+                                                  meta_title_required=True)))
\ No newline at end of file