diff --git a/wai-server/core/services/whatsappHandler.js b/wai-server/core/services/whatsappHandler.js
index 84c9686..0b993a2 100644
--- a/wai-server/core/services/whatsappHandler.js
+++ b/wai-server/core/services/whatsappHandler.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const webhookBodyBuilder = (messageData, messageType) => {
       ...(messageData.updateTime ? { [timeField[messageData.status]]: messageData.updateTime } : {}),
       wamid: messageData.id,
       direction: directionField[messageType],
-      externalId: '', // todo:
+      externalId: '-1', // todo:
     },
   };
   return message;