diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 93ec6fc..76cb7ca 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	var lastProposalId string
+	firstIteration := true
 	for {
 		latestProposal, err := getLatestProposal(cosmosEndpoint)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -63,15 +64,17 @@ func main() {
 		}
 
 		// post to slack only if didn't posted before
-		if lastProposalId != latestProposal.ID {
+		if !firstIteration && lastProposalId != latestProposal.ID {
 			err = postToSlack(chainID, *latestProposal, slackWebhookURL)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("Error posting to slack: %s\n", err)
 				continue
 			}
-			lastProposalId = latestProposal.ID
 		}
 
+		lastProposalId = latestProposal.ID
+		firstIteration = false
+
 		time.Sleep(interval)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/proposals.go b/proposals.go
index ccae820..3864a0a 100644
--- a/proposals.go
+++ b/proposals.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 )
@@ -64,5 +65,8 @@ func getLatestProposal(cosmosEndpoint string) (*Proposal, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	if len(proposalsData.Proposals) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no proposals found")
+	}
 	return &proposalsData.Proposals[0], nil
 }