diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/com/crypto/Caesar.java b/backend/src/main/java/com/crypto/Caesar.java
index 3419b7f..3fead4a 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/com/crypto/Caesar.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/com/crypto/Caesar.java
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ public class Caesar {
         char encoded[] = plaintext.toCharArray();
 
         for(int i = 0; i < plaintext.length(); i++){
-            if (encoded[i] == ' ') continue;
+            if (alphabet.indexOf(encoded[i]) == -1) continue;
             encoded[i] = alphabet.charAt((alphabet.indexOf(encoded[i]) + key) % 26);
         }
         return String.valueOf(encoded);
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public class Caesar {
         for(int key = 0; key < alphabet.length(); key++){
 
             for(int i = 0; i < ciphertext.length(); i++){
-                if (encoded[i] == ' ') {
+                if (alphabet.indexOf(encoded[i]) == -1) {
                     decoded[i] = encoded[i];
                     continue;
                 }