diff --git a/resolvers/load.py b/resolvers/load.py
index d30db16..5350560 100644
--- a/resolvers/load.py
+++ b/resolvers/load.py
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ async def load_messages(
 async def load_chats(_, info, limit: int = 50, offset: int = 0) -> Dict[str, Union[List[Dict[str, Any]], None]]:
     """load :limit chats of current user with :offset"""
     author_id = info.context.get("author_id")
+    chats = []
     if author_id:
         cids = await redis.execute("SMEMBERS", f"chats_by_author/{author_id}")
-        chats = []
         if cids:
             members_online = (await redis.execute("SMEMBERS", "authors-online")) or []
             cids = list(cids)[offset : (offset + limit)]