diff --git a/lib/remcached/packet.rb b/lib/remcached/packet.rb
index a09dfd8..51bc365 100644
--- a/lib/remcached/packet.rb
+++ b/lib/remcached/packet.rb
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ def self.parse_header(buf)
     #
     # return:: [String] remaining bytes
     def parse_body(buf)
-      buf, rest = buf[0..(self[:total_body_length] - 1)], buf[self[:total_body_length]..-1]
+      if self[:total_body_length] < 1
+        buf, rest = "", buf
+      else
+        buf, rest = buf[0..(self[:total_body_length] - 1)], buf[self[:total_body_length]..-1]
+      end
 
       if self[:extras_length] > 0
         self[:extras] = parse_extras(buf[0..(self[:extras_length]-1)])
diff --git a/spec/packet_spec.rb b/spec/packet_spec.rb
index 40cb4e6..52193ea 100644
--- a/spec/packet_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/packet_spec.rb
@@ -121,5 +121,23 @@
         @pkt[:value].should == "World"
       end
     end
+
+    describe :parse_body do
+      it "should return succeeding bytes" do
+        s = "\x81\x01\x00\x00" +
+          "\x00\x00\x00\x00" +
+          "\x00\x00\x00\x00" +
+          "\x00\x00\x00\x00" +
+          "\x00\x00\x00\x00" +
+          "\x00\x00\x00\x01" +
+          "chunky bacon"
+        @pkt = Memcached::Response.parse_header(s[0..23])
+        s = @pkt.parse_body(s[24..-1])
+        @pkt[:status].should == 0
+        @pkt[:total_body_length].should == 0
+        @pkt[:value].should == ""
+        s.should == "chunky bacon"
+      end
+    end
   end
 end