--- a/pidgin/libpurple/protocols/facebook/mqtt.c
+++ b/pidgin/libpurple/protocols/facebook/mqtt.c
@@ -361,26 +361,33 @@
 		g_byte_array_set_size(priv->rbuf, 0);
 
 		res = purple_ssl_read(priv->gsc, &byte, sizeof byte);
-		g_byte_array_append(priv->rbuf, &byte, sizeof byte);
 
-		if (res != sizeof byte) {
+		if (res < 0 && errno == EAGAIN) {
+			return;
+		} else if (res != 1) {
 			fb_mqtt_error(mqtt, FB_MQTT_ERROR_GENERAL,
 			              _("Failed to read fixed header"));
 			return;
 		}
 
+		g_byte_array_append(priv->rbuf, &byte, sizeof byte);
+
 		mult = 1;
 
 		do {
 			res = purple_ssl_read(priv->gsc, &byte, sizeof byte);
-			g_byte_array_append(priv->rbuf, &byte, sizeof byte);
 
-			if (res != sizeof byte) {
+			/* TODO: this case isn't handled yet */
+			if (0 && res < 0 && errno == EAGAIN) {
+				return;
+			} else if (res != 1) {
 				fb_mqtt_error(mqtt, FB_MQTT_ERROR_GENERAL,
 				              _("Failed to read packet size"));
 				return;
 			}
 
+			g_byte_array_append(priv->rbuf, &byte, sizeof byte);
+
 			priv->remz += (byte & 127) * mult;
 			mult *= 128;
 		} while ((byte & 128) != 0);
@@ -390,7 +397,9 @@
 		size = MIN(priv->remz, sizeof buf);
 		rize = purple_ssl_read(priv->gsc, buf, size);
 
-		if (rize < 1) {
+		if (rize < 0 && errno == EAGAIN) {
+			return;
+		} else if (rize < 1) {
 			fb_mqtt_error(mqtt, FB_MQTT_ERROR_GENERAL,
 			              _("Failed to read packet data"));
 			return;