diff --git a/src/Purrse.Api/Services/ChatService.cs b/src/Purrse.Api/Services/ChatService.cs
index 0a94c0c..87f41d6 100644
--- a/src/Purrse.Api/Services/ChatService.cs
+++ b/src/Purrse.Api/Services/ChatService.cs
@@ -248,7 +248,9 @@ public class ChatService : IChatService
             }
             else
             {
-                var rawContent = response?.Message?.Content ?? "I'm sorry, I couldn't process that request.";
+                var rawContent = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(response?.Message?.Content)
+                    ? "I'm sorry, I couldn't process that request."
+                    : response!.Message!.Content;
 
                 // If the model responded without calling any tools on the first attempt
                 // AND there are no prior tool results AND no page context data, it