diff --git a/battlesnake/src/main.rs b/battlesnake/src/main.rs
index 702f16b..14bbc51 100644
--- a/battlesnake/src/main.rs
+++ b/battlesnake/src/main.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #![allow(clippy::needless_pass_by_value)]
 
-use battlesnake::{logic, Action, GameState};
+use battlesnake::{logic, Action, Direction, GameState};
 use log::{error, info};
 use rocket::{
     fairing::AdHoc, get, http::Status, launch, post, routes, serde::json::Json, tokio::task,
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ fn handle_start(start_req: Json<GameState>) -> Status {
 }
 
 #[post("/move", format = "json", data = "<move_req>")]
-async fn handle_move(move_req: Json<GameState>) -> Option<Json<Action>> {
+async fn handle_move(move_req: Json<GameState>) -> Json<Action> {
     let start = Instant::now();
     let response = task::spawn_blocking(move || {
         logic::get_move(
@@ -40,9 +40,13 @@ async fn handle_move(move_req: Json<GameState>) -> Option<Json<Action>> {
     .await
     .inspect_err(|e| error!("failed to join compute thread: {e}"))
     .ok()
-    .flatten()?;
+    .flatten()
+    .unwrap_or(Action {
+        r#move: Direction::Up,
+        shout: Some("I am so dead".to_owned()),
+    });
 
-    Some(Json(response))
+    Json(response)
 }
 
 #[post("/end", format = "json", data = "<end_req>")]