diff --git a/apps/storefront/lib/ai/tools.ts b/apps/storefront/lib/ai/tools.ts
index 9e2609e..91cfc2e 100644
--- a/apps/storefront/lib/ai/tools.ts
+++ b/apps/storefront/lib/ai/tools.ts
@@ -157,10 +157,15 @@ export function createTools(customerId: string, _conversationId?: string) {
           };
         }
 
-        // selectPayment throws for orders that predate the payments launch —
-        // the demo's planted failure. Nothing catches it here on purpose: the
-        // AI SDK turns the rejection into a tool-error result.
-        const payment = await db.selectPayment(orderId);
+        let payment;
+        try {
+          payment = await db.selectPayment(orderId);
+        } catch (err) {
+          return {
+            refunded: false as const,
+            reason: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),
+          };
+        }
         const refund = await issueRefund({
           chargeId: payment.chargeId,
           amount: order.total.amount,