diff --git a/src/Exceptions/ExceptionMessages.php b/src/Exceptions/ExceptionMessages.php
index 99ae8f9..abae814 100644
--- a/src/Exceptions/ExceptionMessages.php
+++ b/src/Exceptions/ExceptionMessages.php
@@ -25,5 +25,7 @@ class ExceptionMessages
 
     public const NOT_A_MOBILE_NUMBER        = 'not a mobile number';
 
+    public const EMPTY_RECIPIENT_LIST       = 'request must contain a valid recipient';
+
     public const DEBUG_NOSENDERORCOUNTRYCODE= 'no sender number or sender country code defined, use fallback to account default';
 }
diff --git a/src/Request/Request.php b/src/Request/Request.php
index 3483bfe..5278007 100644
--- a/src/Request/Request.php
+++ b/src/Request/Request.php
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ namespace D3\LinkmobilityClient\Request;
 
 use Assert\Assert;
 use D3\LinkmobilityClient\Client;
+use D3\LinkmobilityClient\Exceptions\ExceptionMessages;
 use D3\LinkmobilityClient\RecipientsList\RecipientsList;
 use D3\LinkmobilityClient\RecipientsList\RecipientsListInterface;
 use D3\LinkmobilityClient\Response\ResponseInterface;
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ abstract class Request implements RequestInterface
         Assert::that($this->getOptions())->isArray();
 
         Assert::that($this->getRecipientsList())->isInstanceOf(RecipientsList::class)->notEmpty();
-        Assert::that($this->getRecipientsList()->getRecipients())->notEmpty('request must contain a valid recipient');
+        Assert::that($this->getRecipientsList()->getRecipients())->notEmpty(ExceptionMessages::EMPTY_RECIPIENT_LIST);
         Assert::thatAll($this->getRecipientsList())->isInstanceOf(Recipient::class)->notEmpty();
 
         // optional properties