CaRP - Can we check for returned data before dumping to page

CaRP check for data before output

[dareRock]

A quick question to those familiar with CaRP.

Using PHP, can we do something like the following?

-------
...
...
$feedUrl = 'http://www.widgits.com/widgits.rss';
$data = CarpCacheShow($feedUrl);
if($data){
echo $data;
} else {
echo 'No data to display';
}
-------

have had no luck with this or variations.

any advice/help would be appreciated.