diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 9b2cfac..d5afb8b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "discord-aidolls",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "discord-aidolls",
-      "version": "0.1.0",
+      "version": "0.1.1",
       "license": "---",
       "dependencies": {
         "discord.js": "^14.18.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 11e8d6a..6d5db06 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "discord-aidolls",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Ollama Integration into discord with persistent bot memories",
   "main": "build/index.js",
   "exports": "./build/index.js",
diff --git a/src/events/messageCreate.ts b/src/events/messageCreate.ts
index 7bf095a..d892759 100644
--- a/src/events/messageCreate.ts
+++ b/src/events/messageCreate.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,17 @@ interface UserConfig {
  * @param message the message received from the channel
  */
 export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client, defaultModel }: { log: (msg: string) => void, msgHist: Queue<UserMessage>, ollama: Ollama, client: any, defaultModel: string }, message: Message) => {
-    const clientId = client.user!.id
+    // Early check to prevent bot from replying to itself
+    if (!client.user) {
+        log('Client user is not defined. Skipping message processing.')
+        return
+    }
+    const clientId = client.user.id
+    if (message.author.id === clientId) {
+        log(`Skipping message from self (bot ID: ${clientId}).`)
+        return
+    }
+
     let cleanedMessage = clean(message.content, clientId)
     log(`Message "${cleanedMessage}" from ${message.author.tag} in channel/thread ${message.channelId}.`)
 
@@ -61,6 +71,25 @@ export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client
         }
     }
 
+    // Check cooldown for bot-to-bot responses only if probability check passes
+    const botResponseCooldownKey = `bot:${clientId}:last_bot_response`
+    const cooldownPeriod = 60 // 60 seconds cooldown
+    if (isBotMessage && randomChance) {
+        log(`Bot message probability check passed (10% chance). Checking cooldown.`)
+        try {
+            const lastResponseTime = await redis.get(botResponseCooldownKey)
+            const currentTime = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
+            if (lastResponseTime && (currentTime - parseInt(lastResponseTime)) < cooldownPeriod) {
+                log(`Bot ${clientId} is in cooldown for bot-to-bot response. Skipping.`)
+                return
+            }
+        } catch (error) {
+            log(`Failed to check bot response cooldown: ${error}`)
+        }
+    } else if (isBotMessage) {
+        log(`Bot message probability check failed (10% chance). Skipping cooldown check.`)
+    }
+
     // Check if last response was to a bot and require user message
     const lastResponseToBotKey = `bot:${clientId}:last_response_to_bot`
     let shouldRespond = true
@@ -76,25 +105,6 @@ export default event(Events.MessageCreate, async ({ log, msgHist, ollama, client
         }
     }
 
-    // Check cooldown for bot-to-bot responses only if probability check passes
-    const botResponseCooldownKey = `bot:${clientId}:last_bot_response`
-    const cooldownPeriod = 60 // 60 seconds cooldown
-    if (isBotMessage && randomChance) {
-        log(`Bot message probability check passed (10% chance). Checking cooldown.`)
-        try {
-            const lastResponseTime = await redis.get(botResponseCooldownKey)
-            const currentTime = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
-            if (lastResponseTime && (currentTime - parseInt(lastResponseTime)) < cooldownPeriod) {
-                log(`Bot ${clientId} is in cooldown for bot-to-bot response. Skipping.`)
-                shouldRespond = false
-            }
-        } catch (error) {
-            log(`Failed to check bot response cooldown: ${error}`)
-        }
-    } else if (isBotMessage) {
-        log(`Bot message probability check failed (10% chance). Skipping cooldown check.`)
-    }
-
     if (!shouldRespond) return
 
     // Reset last_response_to_bot flag if this is a user message