diff --git a/server/src/tellmesrv.py b/server/src/tellmesrv.py
index ec00470..517babb 100644
--- a/server/src/tellmesrv.py
+++ b/server/src/tellmesrv.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ def sendmessage(target, message):
     ws.close()
 
     for chatitem in response['resp']['chatItems']:
-        status = chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemStatus']['sndProgress']
+        statusdict = chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemStatus']
+        status = statusdict['sndProgress']
         smessage = chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemText']
         print("Message '%s' sent over websocket to %s, status was %s" % (smessage, target, status))