diff --git a/.github/workflows/customJson.yml b/.github/workflows/customJson.yml
index 91a5f3c..d15902c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/customJson.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/customJson.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: Publish to slack
       id: slack
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.5.0
+      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.6.0
       with:
         payload: '{key: "value", foo: "bar"}'
       env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 8d8e29b..9ec573b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: Publish to slack
       id: slack
-      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.5.0
+      uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1.6.0
       with:
         channel-id: 'CTAAHRA79'
         slack-message: 'posting from a github action!'
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 47ad8e3..fa523b0 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -16057,9 +16057,11 @@ try {
 
 
     let payload = core.getInput('payload');
+    console.log('payload:')
     console.log(payload)
+    console.log(typeof payload)
 
-    if (payload === undefined) {
+    if (payload.length > 0) {
         console.log('undefined payload');
         console.log('no payload passed in, using payload that triggered the GitHub Action')
         // Get the JSON webhook payload for the event that triggered the workflow
@@ -16081,11 +16083,11 @@ try {
         throw 'Need to provide at least one botToken or webhookUrl'
     }
 
-    const channelId = core.getInput('channel-id');
-    console.log('channelId', channelId, typeof channelId)
-    if (botToken.length > 0 && channelId !== undefined) {
+    if (botToken.length > 0) {
         const message = core.getInput('slack-message');
+        const channelId = core.getInput('channel-id');
         console.log('message', message, typeof message)
+        console.log('channelId', channelId, typeof channelId)
 
         const web = new WebClient(botToken);
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 5c8befb..9a0e485 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@ try {
 
 
     let payload = core.getInput('payload');
-    console.log('payload')
+    console.log('payload:')
     console.log(payload)
+    console.log(typeof payload)
 
-    if (payload === undefined) {
+    if (payload.length > 0) {
         console.log('undefined payload');
         console.log('no payload passed in, using payload that triggered the GitHub Action')
         // Get the JSON webhook payload for the event that triggered the workflow
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a977cd9..ffe1a7a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "slack-github-action",
-  "version": "1.5.0",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "description": "The official slack github action. Use this to send data into your Slack workspace",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "scripts": {