diff --git a/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py b/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
index 50b78e6f..ea746798 100644
--- a/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
+++ b/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
@@ -204,15 +204,61 @@ def _bridge_to_work_order(title: str, body: str, category: str) -> None:
         logger.debug("Work order bridge failed: %s", exc)
 
 
+async def _ensure_issue_session():
+    """Lazily create and connect the module-level MCP issue session.
+
+    Returns the connected ``MCPTools`` instance or raises on failure.
+    """
+    from agno.tools.mcp import MCPTools
+
+    global _issue_session
+
+    if _issue_session is None:
+        _issue_session = MCPTools(
+            server_params=_gitea_server_params(),
+            timeout_seconds=settings.mcp_timeout,
+        )
+
+    if not getattr(_issue_session, "_connected", False):
+        await _issue_session.connect()
+        _issue_session._connected = True
+
+    return _issue_session
+
+
+def _build_issue_args(title: str, body: str) -> dict:
+    """Build the ``issue_write`` tool arguments dict.
+
+    Appends the auto-filing signature and parses owner/repo from settings.
+    """
+    full_body = body
+    if full_body:
+        full_body += "\n\n"
+    full_body += "---\n*Auto-filed by Timmy's thinking engine*"
+
+    owner, repo = settings.gitea_repo.split("/", 1)
+
+    return {
+        "method": "create",
+        "owner": owner,
+        "repo": repo,
+        "title": title,
+        "body": full_body,
+    }
+
+
+def _category_from_labels(labels: str) -> str:
+    """Derive a work-order category from comma-separated label names."""
+    label_list = [tag.strip() for tag in labels.split(",") if tag.strip()] if labels else []
+    return "bug" if "bug" in label_list else "suggestion"
+
+
 async def create_gitea_issue_via_mcp(title: str, body: str = "", labels: str = "") -> str:
     """File a Gitea issue via the MCP server (standalone, no LLM loop).
 
     Used by the thinking engine's ``_maybe_file_issues()`` post-hook.
     Manages its own MCPTools session with lazy connect + graceful failure.
 
-    Uses ``tools.session.call_tool()`` for direct MCP invocation — the
-    ``MCPTools`` wrapper itself does not expose ``call_tool()``.
-
     Args:
         title: Issue title.
         body: Issue body (markdown).
@@ -225,46 +271,11 @@ async def create_gitea_issue_via_mcp(title: str, body: str = "", labels: str = "
         return "Gitea integration is not configured."
 
     try:
-        from agno.tools.mcp import MCPTools
+        session = await _ensure_issue_session()
+        args = _build_issue_args(title, body)
+        result = await session.session.call_tool("issue_write", arguments=args)
 
-        global _issue_session
-
-        if _issue_session is None:
-            _issue_session = MCPTools(
-                server_params=_gitea_server_params(),
-                timeout_seconds=settings.mcp_timeout,
-            )
-
-        # Ensure connected
-        if not getattr(_issue_session, "_connected", False):
-            await _issue_session.connect()
-            _issue_session._connected = True
-
-        # Append auto-filing signature
-        full_body = body
-        if full_body:
-            full_body += "\n\n"
-        full_body += "---\n*Auto-filed by Timmy's thinking engine*"
-
-        # Parse owner/repo from settings
-        owner, repo = settings.gitea_repo.split("/", 1)
-
-        # Build tool arguments — gitea-mcp uses issue_write with method="create"
-        args = {
-            "method": "create",
-            "owner": owner,
-            "repo": repo,
-            "title": title,
-            "body": full_body,
-        }
-
-        # Call via the underlying MCP session (MCPTools doesn't expose call_tool)
-        result = await _issue_session.session.call_tool("issue_write", arguments=args)
-
-        # Bridge to local work order
-        label_list = [tag.strip() for tag in labels.split(",") if tag.strip()] if labels else []
-        category = "bug" if "bug" in label_list else "suggestion"
-        _bridge_to_work_order(title, body, category)
+        _bridge_to_work_order(title, body, _category_from_labels(labels))
 
         logger.info("Created Gitea issue via MCP: %s", title[:60])
         return f"Created issue: {title}\n{result}"