diff --git a/lib/mysql/connector/protocol.py b/lib/mysql/connector/protocol.py
index d61bc48..d5e3b9a 100644
--- a/lib/mysql/connector/protocol.py
+++ b/lib/mysql/connector/protocol.py
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ def parse_auth_switch_request(self, packet):
                 "Failed parsing AuthSwitchRequest packet")
 
         (packet, plugin_name) = utils.read_string(packet[5:], end=b'\x00')
-        if packet[-1] == 0:
+        if packet and packet[-1] == 0:
             packet = packet[:-1]
 
         return plugin_name.decode('utf8'), packet