diff --git a/Plugin/unraid/include/node_chat.php b/Plugin/unraid/include/node_chat.php
index 69489fc..431c6ef 100644
--- a/Plugin/unraid/include/node_chat.php
+++ b/Plugin/unraid/include/node_chat.php
@@ -413,6 +413,14 @@ function vvNcToggleFmt() {
 
 // Style string for a message. Closed set on both ends — the server validates the same values,
 // so nothing here can emit a property the store did not agree to.
+// Module scope, because two functions need it: _vvNcStyle() renders with it and vvNcRender() used
+// to declare its own copy. The copy was a `const` inside vvNcRender, so the reference here — in a
+// different function — resolved to nothing and threw ReferenceError on every render, but only with
+// the formatting toggle on, since the plain-render early return below skips the line that uses it.
+// Every mesh transcript therefore failed to draw for anyone who had formatting enabled, and the
+// empty catch on the fetch swallowed the reason.
+const _VV_NC_FONTS = { mono: 'monospace', sans: 'system-ui,sans-serif', serif: 'Georgia,serif' };
+
 function _vvNcStyle(m, mine) {
   // Reader wins over sender. Someone else's purple italic large is their idea of emphasis, and
   // on a wall-mounted dashboard it is noise — this renders every message plain here without
@@ -423,7 +431,7 @@ function _vvNcStyle(m, mine) {
   const st = m.style || {};
   const sizes = { sm: '11px', lg: '14px' };
   let s = `color:${st.color || (mine ? '#7a9a7a' : '#9aa')};`;
-  if (fonts[st.font]) s += `font-family:${fonts[st.font]};`;
+  if (_VV_NC_FONTS[st.font]) s += `font-family:${_VV_NC_FONTS[st.font]};`;
   s += `font-size:${sizes[st.size] || '12px'};`;
   if (st.bold)      s += 'font-weight:700;';
   if (st.italic)    s += 'font-style:italic;';
@@ -528,7 +536,6 @@ function vvNcRender() {
       + (unreadOnly ? 'Nothing new.' : 'No messages yet — say hello.') + `</div>`;
     return;
   }
-  const fonts = { mono: 'monospace', sans: 'system-ui,sans-serif', serif: 'Georgia,serif' };
   box.innerHTML = msgs.map(m => {
     const mine  = m.from === _vvNc.me;
     const fresh = (m.ts || 0) > _vvNc.lastRead && !mine;