diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
index f489c45e0..5d69a49b7 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function normalizeToolParameters(tool: AnyAgentTool): AnyAgentTool {
       properties: schema.properties ?? {},
       additionalProperties:
         "additionalProperties" in schema ? schema.additionalProperties : true,
-    } as TSchema,
+    } as unknown as TSchema,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/templating.ts b/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
index a4519a94b..00dc4a9a7 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ export function applyTemplate(str: string | undefined, ctx: TemplateContext) {
   if (!str) return "";
   return str.replace(/{{\s*(\w+)\s*}}/g, (_, key) => {
     const value = ctx[key as keyof TemplateContext];
-    return value ?? "";
+    return value == null ? "" : String(value);
   });
 }