diff --git a/lib/services/pax8-client.ts b/lib/services/pax8-client.ts
index 0885f0d..2f4685c 100644
--- a/lib/services/pax8-client.ts
+++ b/lib/services/pax8-client.ts
@@ -58,9 +58,10 @@ export class Pax8Client {
     if (!data.access_token || typeof data.expires_in !== 'number') {
       throw new Error('PAX8 token response missing access_token/expires_in');
     }
-    this.accessToken = data.access_token;
+    const token: string = data.access_token;
+    this.accessToken = token;
     this.tokenExpiry = Date.now() + data.expires_in * 1000;
-    return this.accessToken;
+    return token;
   }
 
   // Phase 11/12 will extend this with 429-aware Retry-After backoff for the