diff --git a/src/pyob/core_utils.py b/src/pyob/core_utils.py
index 27cf59b..494d28a 100644
--- a/src/pyob/core_utils.py
+++ b/src/pyob/core_utils.py
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ def restore_workspace(self, state: dict[str, str]) -> None:
 
     def load_memory(self) -> str:
         """Loads persistent memory and injects repo-level human directives."""
-        memory_content = ""
+        memory_content: str = ""
 
         if os.path.exists(self.memory_path):
             try: