diff --git a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
index b6f303b9..97c97f1b 100644
--- a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
+++ b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ const approvalRateLimiter = rateLimiters.perUser(10);
 
 serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
   const tracking = startRequest(); // Start request tracking
+  let authenticatedUserId: string | undefined = undefined; // Declare outside try block for catch access
   
   if (req.method === 'OPTIONS') {
     return new Response(null, { headers: corsHeaders });
@@ -564,7 +565,7 @@ serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
     // (parks, rides, companies, ride_models) which have RLS policies
     // Security measures: User auth verified above, moderator role checked via RPC
 
-    const authenticatedUserId = user.id;
+    authenticatedUserId = user.id;
 
     // Create service role client for privileged operations (including role check)
     const supabase = createClient(
@@ -1232,7 +1233,7 @@ serve(withRateLimit(async (req) => {
     edgeLogger.error('Approval process failed', {
       action: 'approval_process_error',
       error: errorMessage,
-      userId: authenticatedUserId,
+      userId: authenticatedUserId || 'unknown',
       requestId: tracking.requestId,
       duration
     });