diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index 88a998a..c9f800e 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -586,9 +586,9 @@ def main():
     info("Zero complete")
 
     # umqtt.robust handles reconnection automatically — just connect once
-    client = connect_mqtt()
-    publish_discovery(client)
-    publish_state(client)
+    connect_mqtt()
+    publish_discovery(client_ref)
+    publish_state(client_ref)
 
     info("Entering main loop")
     info("-" * 48)
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ def main():
                 utime.sleep_ms(1000)
                 continue
 
-            client.check_msg()
+            client_ref.check_msg()
 
             now = utime.ticks_ms()