diff --git a/agent/agent.py b/agent/agent.py
index 718885e..dd8a5ed 100644
--- a/agent/agent.py
+++ b/agent/agent.py
@@ -263,9 +263,9 @@ class IRCClient:
         for line in text.split("\n"):
             line = line.strip()
             if line:
-                while len(line) > 400:
-                    self.send(f"PRIVMSG {target} :{line[:400]}")
-                    line = line[400:]
+                while len(line) > 380:
+                    self.send(f"PRIVMSG {target} :{line[:380]}")
+                    line = line[380:]
                 self.send(f"PRIVMSG {target} :{line}")
 
     def set_bot_mode(self):
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ def extract_question(text):
 
 _last_response_time = 0
 _AGENT_COOLDOWN = 10
+_cooldown_lock = threading.Lock()
 
 
 def handle_message(irc, source_nick, target, text):
@@ -494,11 +495,12 @@ def handle_message(irc, source_nick, target, text):
     if not is_dm and not should_trigger(text):
         return
 
-    now = time.time()
-    if now - _last_response_time < _AGENT_COOLDOWN:
-        log(f"Cooldown active, ignoring trigger from {source_nick}")
-        return
-    _last_response_time = now
+    with _cooldown_lock:
+        now = time.time()
+        if now - _last_response_time < _AGENT_COOLDOWN:
+            log(f"Cooldown active, ignoring trigger from {source_nick}")
+            return
+        _last_response_time = now
 
     question = extract_question(text) if not is_dm else text
     log(f"Triggered by {source_nick} in {channel}: {question[:80]}")