diff --git a/wwwroot/api/cockpit_chat.dspy b/wwwroot/api/cockpit_chat.dspy
index 9aa125f..6f86d2a 100644
--- a/wwwroot/api/cockpit_chat.dspy
+++ b/wwwroot/api/cockpit_chat.dspy
@@ -288,6 +288,8 @@ if action == 'send_message':
 
     uid = await get_user()
     org_id = await get_userorgid() or '0'
+    msg_id = ''  # always defined, even on error
+    agent_reply = ''
 
     async with DBPools().sqlorContext(dbname) as sor:
         # 1. Load context and model