diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/ClientPacketsHandler.java b/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/ClientPacketsHandler.java
index 8fb8c79..601ca29 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/ClientPacketsHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/ClientPacketsHandler.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 import cc.reconnected.chatbox.utils.Webhook;
 import cc.reconnected.chatbox.ws.ClientErrors;
 import cc.reconnected.library.data.PlayerMeta;
-import net.fabricmc.fabric.api.event.lifecycle.v1.ServerLifecycleEvents;
 import net.fabricmc.fabric.api.event.lifecycle.v1.ServerTickEvents;
 import net.kyori.adventure.text.Component;
 import net.kyori.adventure.text.serializer.json.JSONComponentSerializer;
@@ -55,6 +54,13 @@ private static void tickQueue(MinecraftServer server) {
                 continue;
             }
 
+            // anti-ai-monologue-bug!
+            // (also known as "we can't even yell back to the client because it disconnected")
+            if( msg.conn.isClosed()) {
+                messageQueue.remove(uuid);
+                continue;
+            }
+
             if (msg.type == MessageTypes.SAY) {
                 Webhook.send(uuid, msg, null);
                 mcServer.getPlayerList().getPlayers().forEach(player -> player.sendMessage(msg.message));
@@ -102,8 +108,8 @@ private static String enqueueAndResult(UUID licenseId, ClientMessage message, in
         }
     }
 
-    public static void register() {
-        ServerLifecycleEvents.SERVER_STARTING.register(server -> mcServer = server);
+    public static void register(MinecraftServer server) {
+        mcServer = server;
         ServerTickEvents.END_SERVER_TICK.register(ClientPacketsHandler::tickQueue);
 
         ChatboxMessageEvents.SAY.register((client, packet) -> {
diff --git a/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/listeners/ChatboxEvents.java b/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/listeners/ChatboxEvents.java
index 00b5adb..2948bec 100644
--- a/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/listeners/ChatboxEvents.java
+++ b/src/main/java/cc/reconnected/chatbox/listeners/ChatboxEvents.java
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ public static void register(MinecraftServer serverStarting) {
             SolsticeEvents.register();
         }
 
-        ClientPacketsHandler.register();
+        // Bomber: I would like to have a few words with whoever decided to try listening to the server starting
+        // event INSIDE ClientPacketsHandler's register method... that is only run after the server starting event
+        // has fired...
+        ClientPacketsHandler.register(serverStarting);
         ClientConnectionEvents.CONNECT.register((conn, license, isGuest) -> {
             var playerData = PlayerMeta.getPlayer(license.userId());