diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 40b14c5..08deeef 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,19 +1,8 @@
-# use node LTS image for version 22
 FROM node:jod-alpine
-
-# set working directory inside container
 WORKDIR /app
-
-# copy package.json and the lock file into the container, and src files
-COPY ./src ./src
-COPY ./*.json ./
-COPY ./.env ./
-
-# install dependencies, breaks
+COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
 RUN npm install
-
-# build the typescript code
+COPY src/ ./src/
+COPY src/personality.json ./src/
 RUN npm run build
-
-# start the application
 CMD ["npm", "run", "prod"]
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 1d004e8..3f2be9f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
-# creates the docker compose
-
-# build individual services 
+version: '3.8'
 services:
-  # setup discord bot container
   discord:
-    build: ./                     # find docker file in designated path
+    build: ./
     container_name: discord
-    restart: always               # rebuild container always
+    restart: always
     image: gitea.matrixwide.com/alex/discord-aidolls:0.1.0
     environment:
       CLIENT_TOKEN: ${CLIENT_TOKEN}
@@ -18,23 +15,20 @@ services:
     networks:
       ollama-net:
         ipv4_address: ${DISCORD_IP}
-    volumes: 
-      - discord:/src/app          # docker will not make this for you, make it yourself
-
-# setup redis container
+    volumes:
+      - discord:/app/data
+      - ./src:/app/src  # Mount src/ to ensure personality.json is available
   redis:
-    image: redis:latest
+    image: redis:alpine  # Use alpine for smaller footprint
     container_name: redis
     restart: always
     networks:
       ollama-net:
         ipv4_address: ${REDIS_IP}
     volumes:
-      - redis:/root/.redis
+      - redis:/data
     ports:
       - ${REDIS_PORT}:${REDIS_PORT}
-
-# create a network that supports giving addresses withing a specific subnet
 networks:
   ollama-net:
     driver: bridge
@@ -42,7 +36,6 @@ networks:
       driver: default
       config:
         - subnet: ${SUBNET_ADDRESS}/16
-
 volumes:
   discord:
   redis:
diff --git a/src/events/messageCreate.ts b/src/events/messageCreate.ts
index f146614..0ea05a6 100644
--- a/src/events/messageCreate.ts
+++ b/src/events/messageCreate.ts
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client
         if (chatMessages.length === 0) {
             chatMessages = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
                 openChannelInfo(message.channelId, message.channel as TextChannel, message.author.tag)
-                getChannelInfo(`${message.channelId}-${message.author.username}.json`, (channelInfo) => {
-                    if (channelInfo?.messages) {
-                        resolve(channelInfo.messages)
+                getChannelInfo(`${message.channelId}-${message.author.username}.json`, (config) => {
+                    if (config?.messages) {
+                        resolve(config.messages)
                     } else {
                         reject(new Error(`Failed to find ${message.author.username}'s history. Try chatting again.`))
                     }
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client
         // Load personality
         let personality: string
         try {
-            // Point to /app/src/personality.json
             const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
             const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename)
             const personalityPath = path.join(__dirname, '../personality.json')
@@ -248,7 +247,9 @@ export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client
             }
         } catch (error) {
             log(`Failed to parse model response: ${error}`)
-            throw new Error(`Invalid JSON response from model: ${error}`)
+            message.reply('Sorry, I’m having trouble thinking right now. Try again?')
+            msgHist.pop()
+            return
         }
 
         if (jsonResponse.status === 'error') {