diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/io/22-websocket.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/io/22-websocket.js
index c2fab34e3..55964062d 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/io/22-websocket.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/io/22-websocket.js
@@ -250,9 +250,12 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         this.on("input", function(msg) {
             var payload;
             if (this.serverConfig.wholemsg) {
+                var sess = ""+msg._session;
                 delete msg._session;
                 payload = JSON.stringify(msg);
-            } else if (msg.hasOwnProperty("payload")) {
+                msg._session = sess;
+            }
+            else if (msg.hasOwnProperty("payload")) {
                 if (!Buffer.isBuffer(msg.payload)) { // if it's not a buffer make sure it's a string.
                     payload = RED.util.ensureString(msg.payload);
                 }