diff --git a/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts b/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
index c26718ecf..0be4b6d84 100644
--- a/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
+++ b/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
@@ -135,8 +135,10 @@ export async function processDiscordMessage(ctx: DiscordMessagePreflightContext)
     threadParentType === ChannelType.GuildForum || threadParentType === ChannelType.GuildMedia;
   const forumParentSlug =
     isForumParent && threadParentName ? normalizeDiscordSlug(threadParentName) : "";
-  const isForumStarter =
-    threadChannel && isForumParent && forumParentSlug ? message.id === threadChannel.id : false;
+  const threadChannelId = threadChannel?.id;
+  const isForumStarter = Boolean(
+    threadChannelId && isForumParent && forumParentSlug && message.id === threadChannelId,
+  );
   const forumContextLine = isForumStarter ? `[Forum parent: #${forumParentSlug}]` : null;
   const groupChannel = isGuildMessage && displayChannelSlug ? `#${displayChannelSlug}` : undefined;
   const groupSubject = isDirectMessage ? undefined : groupChannel;