diff --git a/app/internal/bot_manager.py b/app/internal/bot_manager.py
index ef33445..45d148d 100644
--- a/app/internal/bot_manager.py
+++ b/app/internal/bot_manager.py
@@ -69,26 +69,34 @@ class VoiceCog(commands.Cog):
             return False
 
         # Get voice client for this guild
-        voice_client = discord.utils.get(self.bot.voice_clients, guild=guild)
+        current_voice_client = discord.utils.get(self.bot.voice_clients, guild=guild)
 
-        if voice_client:
-            if voice_client.channel == channel:
+        if current_voice_client:
+            if current_voice_client.channel == channel:
                 print(f"Already in channel: {channel.name} in guild {guild.name}.")
+                voice_client_to_use = current_voice_client # Use existing
             else:
-                await voice_client.move_to(channel)
+                await current_voice_client.move_to(channel)
                 print(f"Moved to channel: {channel.name} in guild {guild.name}.")
+                voice_client_to_use = current_voice_client # Use moved existing
         else:
             try:
-                voice_client = await channel.connect(timeout=60.0, reconnect=True)
+                voice_client_to_use = await channel.connect(timeout=60.0, reconnect=True)
                 print(f"Connected to channel: {channel.name} in guild {guild.name}.")
             except Exception as e:
                 print(f"Failed to connect to {channel.name} in guild {guild.name}. Error: {e}")
                 return False
 
+        # --- IMPORTANT: Validate voice_client_to_use BEFORE passing to NoiseGate ---
+        if not voice_client_to_use:
+            print(f"Failed to obtain a valid VoiceClient object for guild {guild.name}.")
+            return False
+
         if discord.opus.is_loaded():
             # Create and start the NoiseGate audio stream for this server
+            # Ensure the correct voice client is passed
             stream_handler = NoiseGate(
-                _voice_connection=voice_client,
+                _voice_connection=voice_client_to_use, # Corrected: use the unified variable
                 _noise_gate_threshold=self.ng_threshold,
                 _input_device_index=self.device_id
             )
@@ -98,7 +106,9 @@ class VoiceCog(commands.Cog):
             return True
         else:
             print("Opus library not loaded. Cannot start audio stream.")
-            await voice_client.disconnect() # Disconnect if opus isn't loaded
+            # Disconnect if opus isn't loaded but a connection was made
+            if voice_client_to_use:
+                await voice_client_to_use.disconnect()
             return False
 
     # Internal API method to leave a voice channel
@@ -155,7 +165,6 @@ class VoiceCog(commands.Cog):
         if not discord.opus.is_loaded():
             await ctx.send("Opus audio library is not loaded. I cannot join a voice channel.")
             raise commands.CommandError("Opus not loaded.")
-
 # --- Discord Bot Manager Class ---
 class DiscordBotManager:
     def __init__(self, device_id: int = 0, ng_threshold: int = 50):