diff --git a/core/cat/looking_glass/stray_cat.py b/core/cat/looking_glass/stray_cat.py
index b71093fd9..cc68f7109 100644
--- a/core/cat/looking_glass/stray_cat.py
+++ b/core/cat/looking_glass/stray_cat.py
@@ -653,6 +653,10 @@ def _store_user_message_in_episodic_memory(self, user_message_text: str):
         doc = self.mad_hatter.execute_hook(
             "before_cat_stores_episodic_memory", doc, cat=self
         )
+        match doc:
+            case (None, True):
+                log.info("Document is None; skipping storing in episodic memory.")
+                return
         # store user message in episodic memory
         # TODO: vectorize and store also conversation chunks
         #   (not raw dialog, but summarization)