diff --git a/socketio/packet.py b/socketio/packet.py
index 642e179..9877a22 100644
--- a/socketio/packet.py
+++ b/socketio/packet.py
@@ -69,7 +69,11 @@ class Packet(object):
         necessary to fully decode the packet.
         """
         ep = encoded_packet
-        self.packet_type = int(ep[0:1])
+        try:
+            self.packet_type = int(ep[0:1])
+        except TypeError:
+            self.packet_type = ep
+            ep = ''
         self.namespace = None
         self.data = None
         ep = ep[1:]
diff --git a/tests/test_packet.py b/tests/test_packet.py
index 511cee1..af77e8d 100644
--- a/tests/test_packet.py
+++ b/tests/test_packet.py
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ class TestPacket(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(pkt.data, ['foo'])
         self.assertEqual(pkt.encode(), '2["foo"]')
 
+    def test_decode_empty_event_packet(self):
+        pkt = packet.Packet(encoded_packet='1')
+        self.assertEqual(pkt.packet_type, packet.DISCONNECT)
+        # same thing, but with a numeric payload
+        pkt = packet.Packet(encoded_packet=1)
+        self.assertEqual(pkt.packet_type, packet.DISCONNECT)
+
     def test_encode_binary_event_packet(self):
         pkt = packet.Packet(packet_type=packet.EVENT, data=b'1234')
         self.assertEqual(pkt.packet_type, packet.BINARY_EVENT)