diff --git a/server/chat.ts b/server/chat.ts
index 1a731e0488..3515ea0dbe 100644
--- a/server/chat.ts
+++ b/server/chat.ts
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@ export class CommandContext extends MessageContext {
 		(this.room || Rooms.global).modlog(entry);
 	}
 	parseSpoiler(str: string) {
-		let privateReason;
+		let privateReason = "";
 		if (!str) return {publicReason: "", privateReason};
 
 		let publicReason = str;