---
"@context": https://schema.org
"@type": TechArticle
"@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/api/errors/54251#article
headline: "54251: Invalid Message Stream Message data"
url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/api/errors/54251
inLanguage: en
dateModified: 2026-06-08T11:29:20.000Z
author:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio Developer Education Team
publisher:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio
---

# 54251: Invalid Message Stream Message data

Log Level: ERROR

## Description

This error occurs when you create a Sync Stream Message without the required `Data` value. A Stream Message body must contain an arbitrary JSON object. If you call the REST API directly, send `Data` as a JSON string in an `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` request.

### Possible causes

* The request to create the Stream Message did not include the required `Data` parameter.
* The `Data` parameter was sent with a `null` value.
* The request body did not provide the message payload in a valid JSON format for the API request you used.

### Possible solutions

* Add the `Data` parameter to the request body when you publish the Stream Message.
* Send a non-null JSON payload for the message body.
* If you call the REST API directly, serialize the message body as a JSON string before sending the request.
* If you use a Twilio helper library, pass a non-null object to `data` when you create the Stream Message.
* Make sure the serialized message body does not exceed the 4 KiB limit.

#### Additional resources

* [Stream Message Resource](/docs/sync/api/stream-message-resource)
* [Stream Resource](/docs/sync/api/stream-resource)
* [State Synchronization with Sync Objects](/docs/sync/objects-overview)