diff --git a/modules/mesh_graph_recorder.py b/modules/mesh_graph_recorder.py
index de38850..4536fae 100644
--- a/modules/mesh_graph_recorder.py
+++ b/modules/mesh_graph_recorder.py
@@ -16,9 +16,14 @@ class MeshGraphRecorderMixin:
     bot: Any
     logger: Any
 
-    def _mesh_graph_capturing(self) -> Any:
-        """Truthy when the bot has a mesh graph and it is capturing edges."""
-        return hasattr(self.bot, "mesh_graph") and self.bot.mesh_graph and self.bot.mesh_graph.capture_enabled
+    def _mesh_graph_capturing(self) -> bool:
+        """True when the bot has a mesh graph and it is capturing edges.
+
+        Truth-tests the graph and capture_enabled once each, as the inline guards did.
+        """
+        if not hasattr(self.bot, "mesh_graph") or not self.bot.mesh_graph:
+            return False
+        return bool(self.bot.mesh_graph.capture_enabled)
 
     def _update_mesh_graph(self, path_nodes: list[str], packet_info: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """Update mesh graph with edges from a message path.
diff --git a/tests/test_message_handler.py b/tests/test_message_handler.py
index 0ff3943..a0d2d97 100644
--- a/tests/test_message_handler.py
+++ b/tests/test_message_handler.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import configparser
 import time
-from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, Mock, patch
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, Mock, patch
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -2973,3 +2973,25 @@ class TestNewContactCapacityLogs:
             rm.manage_contact_list.assert_awaited_once_with(auto_cleanup=True)
         else:
             rm.manage_contact_list.assert_not_called()
+
+
+class TestMeshGraphCapturing:
+    """_mesh_graph_capturing truth-tests the graph and capture_enabled once each."""
+
+    def test_falsy_graph_is_tested_once(self, handler, bot):
+        graph = MagicMock()
+        graph.__bool__ = Mock(side_effect=[False, RuntimeError("tested twice")])
+        bot.mesh_graph = graph
+        assert handler._mesh_graph_capturing() is False
+        assert graph.__bool__.call_count == 1
+
+    def test_capture_enabled_is_tested_once(self, handler, bot):
+        flag = MagicMock()
+        flag.__bool__ = Mock(side_effect=[True, RuntimeError("tested twice")])
+        bot.mesh_graph = Mock(capture_enabled=flag)
+        assert handler._mesh_graph_capturing() is True
+        assert flag.__bool__.call_count == 1
+
+    def test_no_graph_attribute(self, handler, bot):
+        del bot.mesh_graph
+        assert handler._mesh_graph_capturing() is False