diff --git a/system/TGWUI_Extension/script.py b/system/TGWUI_Extension/script.py
index 2bb1dca..7646574 100644
--- a/system/TGWUI_Extension/script.py
+++ b/system/TGWUI_Extension/script.py
@@ -763,11 +763,10 @@ def output_modifier(string, state):
     # Lock and process TTS request
     if process_lock.acquire(blocking=False):
         try:
-            output_file = (
-                state["character_menu"] if "character_menu" in state else str("TTSOUT_")
-            )
+            output_file = (state["character_menu"] if "character_menu" in state else str("TTSOUT_"))
+            output_file = (state["character_menu"] if "character_menu" in state and state["character_menu"] is not None else "TTSOUT_")
             # Ensure the file name matches the allowed pattern of AllTalk
-            output_file = re.sub(r"[^a-zA-Z0-9_]", "", output_file)
+            output_file = re.sub(r"[^a-zA-Z0-9_]", "", output_file) or "TTSOUT_"  # Fallback if empty
 
             generate_response, status_message = send_and_generate(
                 cleaned_text,