diff --git a/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb b/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
index 67c59e696..7114d5e3a 100644
--- a/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
+++ b/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ module JamWebsockets
         # TODO: set a max message size before we put it through PB?
         # TODO: rate limit?
 
+        pb_msg = nil
 
         begin
           if client.encode_json
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ module JamWebsockets
           @log.info e
 
           # wrap the message up and send it down
-          error_msg = @message_factory.server_permission_error(msg.message_id, e.to_s)
+          error_msg = @message_factory.server_permission_error(pb_msg.message_id, e.to_s)
           send_to_client(client, error_msg)
         rescue => e
           @log.error "ending client session due to server programming or runtime error. reason=#{e.to_s}"