diff --git a/platypush/message/event/__init__.py b/platypush/message/event/__init__.py
index a1547989..29d7606c 100644
--- a/platypush/message/event/__init__.py
+++ b/platypush/message/event/__init__.py
@@ -135,8 +135,9 @@ class Event(Message):
                         result.parsed_args[argname] += ' ' + event_token
 
 
-                    if len(event_tokens) > 1 and len(condition_tokens) > 1 \
-                            and event_tokens[1] == condition_tokens[1]:
+                    if len(condition_tokens) == 1 \
+                            or (len(event_tokens) > 1 and len(condition_tokens) > 1 \
+                            and event_tokens[1] == condition_tokens[1]):
                         # Stop appending tokens to this argument, as the next
                         # condition will be satisfied as well
                         condition_tokens.pop(0)
diff --git a/platypush/message/event/assistant/__init__.py b/platypush/message/event/assistant/__init__.py
index 59d5367c..44cf6114 100644
--- a/platypush/message/event/assistant/__init__.py
+++ b/platypush/message/event/assistant/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import logging
 import re
 
 from platypush.context import get_backend
@@ -8,7 +9,11 @@ class AssistantEvent(Event):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self._assistant = get_backend('assistant.google')
+        try:
+            self._assistant = get_backend('assistant.google')
+        except KeyError as e:
+            logging.warning('google.assistant backend not configured/initialized')
+            self._assistant = None
 
 
 class ConversationStartEvent(AssistantEvent):