diff --git a/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py b/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
index 6c9ebfb7..d87a01a2 100644
--- a/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
+++ b/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
@@ -71,21 +71,20 @@ async def clear_history(request: Request):
     )
 
 
-@router.post("/default/chat", response_class=HTMLResponse)
-async def chat_agent(request: Request, message: str = Form(...)):
-    """Chat — synchronous response with native Agno tool confirmation."""
+def _validate_message(message: str) -> str:
+    """Strip and validate chat input; raise HTTPException on bad input."""
+    from fastapi import HTTPException
+
     message = message.strip()
     if not message:
-        from fastapi import HTTPException
-
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Message cannot be empty")
-
     if len(message) > MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH:
-        from fastapi import HTTPException
-
         raise HTTPException(status_code=422, detail="Message too long")
+    return message
 
-    # Record user activity so the thinking engine knows we're not idle
+
+def _record_user_activity() -> None:
+    """Notify the thinking engine that the user is active."""
     try:
         from timmy.thinking import thinking_engine
 
@@ -93,6 +92,67 @@ async def chat_agent(request: Request, message: str = Form(...)):
     except Exception:
         logger.debug("Failed to record user input for thinking engine")
 
+
+def _extract_tool_actions(run_output) -> list[dict]:
+    """If Agno paused the run for tool confirmation, build approval items."""
+    from timmy.approvals import create_item
+
+    tool_actions: list[dict] = []
+    status = getattr(run_output, "status", None)
+    is_paused = status == "PAUSED" or str(status) == "RunStatus.paused"
+
+    if not (is_paused and getattr(run_output, "active_requirements", None)):
+        return tool_actions
+
+    for req in run_output.active_requirements:
+        if not getattr(req, "needs_confirmation", False):
+            continue
+        te = req.tool_execution
+        tool_name = getattr(te, "tool_name", "unknown")
+        tool_args = getattr(te, "tool_args", {}) or {}
+
+        item = create_item(
+            title=f"Dashboard: {tool_name}",
+            description=format_action_description(tool_name, tool_args),
+            proposed_action=json.dumps({"tool": tool_name, "args": tool_args}),
+            impact=get_impact_level(tool_name),
+        )
+        _pending_runs[item.id] = {
+            "run_output": run_output,
+            "requirement": req,
+            "tool_name": tool_name,
+            "tool_args": tool_args,
+        }
+        tool_actions.append(
+            {
+                "approval_id": item.id,
+                "tool_name": tool_name,
+                "description": format_action_description(tool_name, tool_args),
+                "impact": get_impact_level(tool_name),
+            }
+        )
+    return tool_actions
+
+
+def _log_exchange(
+    message: str, response_text: str | None, error_text: str | None, timestamp: str
+) -> None:
+    """Append user message and agent/error reply to the in-memory log."""
+    message_log.append(role="user", content=message, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser")
+    if response_text:
+        message_log.append(
+            role="agent", content=response_text, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser"
+        )
+    elif error_text:
+        message_log.append(role="error", content=error_text, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser")
+
+
+@router.post("/default/chat", response_class=HTMLResponse)
+async def chat_agent(request: Request, message: str = Form(...)):
+    """Chat — synchronous response with native Agno tool confirmation."""
+    message = _validate_message(message)
+    _record_user_activity()
+
     timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%H:%M:%S")
     response_text = None
     error_text = None
@@ -104,54 +164,15 @@ async def chat_agent(request: Request, message: str = Form(...)):
         error_text = f"Chat error: {exc}"
         run_output = None
 
-    # Check if Agno paused the run for tool confirmation
-    tool_actions = []
+    tool_actions: list[dict] = []
     if run_output is not None:
-        status = getattr(run_output, "status", None)
-        is_paused = status == "PAUSED" or str(status) == "RunStatus.paused"
-
-        if is_paused and getattr(run_output, "active_requirements", None):
-            for req in run_output.active_requirements:
-                if getattr(req, "needs_confirmation", False):
-                    te = req.tool_execution
-                    tool_name = getattr(te, "tool_name", "unknown")
-                    tool_args = getattr(te, "tool_args", {}) or {}
-
-                    from timmy.approvals import create_item
-
-                    item = create_item(
-                        title=f"Dashboard: {tool_name}",
-                        description=format_action_description(tool_name, tool_args),
-                        proposed_action=json.dumps({"tool": tool_name, "args": tool_args}),
-                        impact=get_impact_level(tool_name),
-                    )
-                    _pending_runs[item.id] = {
-                        "run_output": run_output,
-                        "requirement": req,
-                        "tool_name": tool_name,
-                        "tool_args": tool_args,
-                    }
-                    tool_actions.append(
-                        {
-                            "approval_id": item.id,
-                            "tool_name": tool_name,
-                            "description": format_action_description(tool_name, tool_args),
-                            "impact": get_impact_level(tool_name),
-                        }
-                    )
-
+        tool_actions = _extract_tool_actions(run_output)
         raw_content = run_output.content if hasattr(run_output, "content") else ""
         response_text = _clean_response(raw_content or "")
         if not response_text and not tool_actions:
-            response_text = None  # let error template show if needed
+            response_text = None
 
-    message_log.append(role="user", content=message, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser")
-    if response_text:
-        message_log.append(
-            role="agent", content=response_text, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser"
-        )
-    elif error_text:
-        message_log.append(role="error", content=error_text, timestamp=timestamp, source="browser")
+    _log_exchange(message, response_text, error_text, timestamp)
 
     return templates.TemplateResponse(
         request,