diff --git a/coolamqp/messages.py b/coolamqp/messages.py
index 4f05f59444a6e6aace3fcd3d341485b8a00faaf5..fde01b2e179c2bbf326f504741875e34e948fe22 100644
--- a/coolamqp/messages.py
+++ b/coolamqp/messages.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class Message(object):
         :param properties: AMQP properties to be sent along
         """
         self.body = body
-        self.properties = {} if properties is None else {}
+        self.properties = {} if properties is None else properties
 
 
 class ReceivedMessage(Message):