diff --git a/backend/routes/cardApi.js b/backend/routes/cardApi.js
index f377b9f..c8d6afa 100644
--- a/backend/routes/cardApi.js
+++ b/backend/routes/cardApi.js
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ function createCardApiRouter() {
             const updateToken = ownerData.owner && ownerData.owner.update_token;
 
             if (!updateToken) {
-                const errMsg = 'update_token not found in owner record.';
-                logAudit({ userId: req.user.id, username: req.user.username, action: 'card_action_failed', entityType: 'ivanti_todo_queue', entityId: String(queueItemId), details: { actionType: 'decline', assetId, error: errMsg, cardStatus: null }, ipAddress: req.ip });
+                const errMsg = 'update_token not found in owner record. The asset may have already been actioned or the owner record is in an unexpected state.';
+                logAudit({ userId: req.user.id, username: req.user.username, action: 'card_action_failed', entityType: 'ivanti_todo_queue', entityId: String(queueItemId), details: { actionType: 'decline', assetId, error: errMsg, cardStatus: null, ownerResponse: ownerData }, ipAddress: req.ip });
                 return res.status(502).json({ error: 'CARD API request failed.', details: errMsg });
             }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TemplateFormModal.js b/frontend/src/components/TemplateFormModal.js
index db321b8..fefc18c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TemplateFormModal.js
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TemplateFormModal.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { X, Save, AlertCircle, Loader } from 'lucide-react';
 
-const API_BASE = process.env.REACT_APP_API_BASE || 'http://localhost:3001/api';
+const API_BASE = process.env.REACT_APP_API_BASE || 'http://localhost:3001/api'; // ⚠️ CONVENTION: Prefer relative API paths (e.g. '/api') over absolute URL fallback
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Section definitions — ordered as static first, then semi-static
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@ export default function TemplateFormModal({ mode = 'create', template = null, on
       aria-modal="true"
       aria-labelledby="template-form-modal-title"
       style={STYLES.backdrop}
-      onClick={(e) => { if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onClose?.(); }}
     >
       <div style={STYLES.modal}>
         {/* Header */}