diff --git a/envelopes.go b/envelopes.go
index aa7675a..52b3463 100644
--- a/envelopes.go
+++ b/envelopes.go
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func (v CloseEnvelope) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 type OKEnvelope struct {
 	EventID string
 	OK      bool
-	Reason  *string
+	Reason  string
 }
 
 func (_ OKEnvelope) Label() string { return "OK" }
@@ -276,15 +276,12 @@ func (_ OKEnvelope) Label() string { return "OK" }
 func (v *OKEnvelope) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	r := gjson.ParseBytes(data)
 	arr := r.Array()
-	if len(arr) < 3 {
+	if len(arr) < 4 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode OK envelope: missing fields")
 	}
 	v.EventID = arr[1].Str
 	v.OK = arr[2].Raw == "true"
-
-	if len(arr) > 3 {
-		v.Reason = &arr[3].Str
-	}
+	v.Reason = arr[3].Str
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -298,10 +295,8 @@ func (v OKEnvelope) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		ok = "true"
 	}
 	w.RawString(ok)
-	if v.Reason != nil {
-		w.RawString(`,`)
-		w.Raw(json.Marshal(v.Reason))
-	}
+	w.RawString(`,`)
+	w.Raw(json.Marshal(v.Reason))
 	w.RawString(`]`)
 	return w.BuildBytes()
 }
diff --git a/relay.go b/relay.go
index 6f383ad..11aabc4 100644
--- a/relay.go
+++ b/relay.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type Relay struct {
 
 	challenges                    chan string // NIP-42 challenges
 	notices                       chan string // NIP-01 NOTICEs
-	okCallbacks                   *xsync.MapOf[string, func(bool, *string)]
+	okCallbacks                   *xsync.MapOf[string, func(bool, string)]
 	writeQueue                    chan writeRequest
 	subscriptionChannelCloseQueue chan *Subscription
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func NewRelay(ctx context.Context, url string, opts ...RelayOption) *Relay {
 		connectionContext:             ctx,
 		connectionContextCancel:       cancel,
 		Subscriptions:                 xsync.NewMapOf[*Subscription](),
-		okCallbacks:                   xsync.NewMapOf[func(bool, *string)](),
+		okCallbacks:                   xsync.NewMapOf[func(bool, string)](),
 		writeQueue:                    make(chan writeRequest),
 		subscriptionChannelCloseQueue: make(chan *Subscription),
 	}
@@ -346,22 +346,17 @@ func (r *Relay) Publish(ctx context.Context, event Event) (Status, error) {
 	defer cancel()
 
 	// listen for an OK callback
-	okCallback := func(ok bool, msg *string) {
+	r.okCallbacks.Store(event.ID, func(ok bool, reason string) {
 		mu.Lock()
 		defer mu.Unlock()
 		if ok {
 			status = PublishStatusSucceeded
 		} else {
 			status = PublishStatusFailed
-			reason := ""
-			if msg != nil {
-				reason = *msg
-			}
 			err = fmt.Errorf("msg: %s", reason)
 		}
 		cancel()
-	}
-	r.okCallbacks.Store(event.ID, okCallback)
+	})
 	defer r.okCallbacks.Delete(event.ID)
 
 	// publish event
@@ -410,22 +405,17 @@ func (r *Relay) Auth(ctx context.Context, event Event) (Status, error) {
 	defer cancel()
 
 	// listen for an OK callback
-	okCallback := func(ok bool, msg *string) {
+	r.okCallbacks.Store(event.ID, func(ok bool, reason string) {
 		mu.Lock()
 		if ok {
 			status = PublishStatusSucceeded
 		} else {
 			status = PublishStatusFailed
-			reason := ""
-			if msg != nil {
-				reason = *msg
-			}
 			err = fmt.Errorf("msg: %s", reason)
 		}
 		mu.Unlock()
 		cancel()
-	}
-	r.okCallbacks.Store(event.ID, okCallback)
+	})
 	defer r.okCallbacks.Delete(event.ID)
 
 	// send AUTH