diff --git a/src/bot/chatProcedure.ts b/src/bot/chatProcedure.ts
index 4b8e716..7368964 100644
--- a/src/bot/chatProcedure.ts
+++ b/src/bot/chatProcedure.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
   private _botJoinedAtMs: number = 0;
   private _recentMessageKeyTimestamps: Map<string, number> = new Map();
   private _scanIntervalId: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+  private _consecutiveOpenFailures: number = 0;
+  private static readonly _MAX_OPEN_FAILURES = 5;
 
   constructor(
     page: Page,
@@ -116,10 +118,10 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
    * In authenticated Teams, the chat panel may already be open (meeting loads
    * from a chat thread). Clicking again would TOGGLE it closed.
    */
-  private async _openChatPanel(): Promise<void> {
+  private async _openChatPanel(): Promise<boolean> {
     if (await this._isChatPanelOpen()) {
       this._logger.info('Chat panel already open - skipping toggle');
-      return;
+      return true;
     }
 
     const chatButtonSelectors = [
@@ -131,20 +133,15 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
       'button[aria-label*="Meeting chat" i]',
     ];
 
-    // Poll for the chat button (toolbar renders asynchronously after join).
-    // IMPORTANT: click only ONCE per attempt, then wait for the panel to appear.
-    // Multiple clicks on the same toggle button would open/close/open/close.
     const maxAttempts = 12;
     const pollIntervalMs = 2000;
 
     for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxAttempts; attempt++) {
-      // Check first - a previous click might have opened it by now
       if (await this._isChatPanelOpen()) {
         this._logger.info(`Chat panel detected as open (attempt ${attempt})`);
-        return;
+        return true;
       }
 
-      // Try to find and click the button (only one click per attempt)
       let clicked = false;
       for (const selector of chatButtonSelectors) {
         try {
@@ -163,14 +160,11 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
       }
 
       if (clicked) {
-        // Wait for panel to render after click
         await this._page.waitForTimeout(2500);
         if (await this._isChatPanelOpen()) {
           this._logger.info('Chat panel opened successfully');
-          return;
+          return true;
         }
-        // Panel didn't open despite click - DON'T click again immediately,
-        // wait for next attempt cycle (avoids toggle oscillation)
         this._logger.info('Chat button clicked but panel not detected yet, waiting before next attempt');
         await this._page.waitForTimeout(pollIntervalMs);
       } else {
@@ -182,6 +176,7 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
     }
 
     this._logger.warn('Could not open chat panel after polling - chat will not work');
+    return false;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -445,9 +440,31 @@ export class ChatProcedure {
       if (!this._isSubscribed || !this._page) return;
       try {
         if (!(await this._isChatPanelOpen())) {
+          if (this._consecutiveOpenFailures >= ChatProcedure._MAX_OPEN_FAILURES) {
+            this._logger.warn(
+              `Chat panel failed to open ${this._consecutiveOpenFailures} consecutive times - ` +
+              'stopping periodic chat scan to avoid log noise',
+            );
+            if (this._scanIntervalId) {
+              clearInterval(this._scanIntervalId);
+              this._scanIntervalId = null;
+            }
+            return;
+          }
           this._logger.info('Chat panel closed, reopening');
-          await this._openChatPanel();
+          const opened = await this._openChatPanel();
+          if (opened) {
+            this._consecutiveOpenFailures = 0;
+          } else {
+            this._consecutiveOpenFailures++;
+            this._logger.info(
+              `Chat reopen failed (${this._consecutiveOpenFailures}/${ChatProcedure._MAX_OPEN_FAILURES} before giving up)`,
+            );
+            return;
+          }
           await this._page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+        } else {
+          this._consecutiveOpenFailures = 0;
         }
 
         const knownKeys = Array.from(this._recentMessageKeyTimestamps.keys());