diff --git a/packages/blackbox/src/blackbox/dashboard/rendering.py b/packages/blackbox/src/blackbox/dashboard/rendering.py
index a561251..ab2c73e 100644
--- a/packages/blackbox/src/blackbox/dashboard/rendering.py
+++ b/packages/blackbox/src/blackbox/dashboard/rendering.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def tool_call_html(preview: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def render_log_html(entry: LogEntry) -> str:  # noqa: C901, PLR0912
+def render_log_html(entry: LogEntry) -> str:
     ts = fmt_time(entry.timestamp)
     src_cls = SOURCE_CLASSES.get(entry.source, "bg-gray-600")
     src_label = SOURCE_LABELS.get(entry.source, entry.source[:3].upper())
@@ -138,31 +138,32 @@ def render_log_html(entry: LogEntry) -> str:  # noqa: C901, PLR0912
         badge_cls = src_cls
         badge_label = src_label
 
-    if entry.source == "user" and entry.level == "info":
+    level = entry.level
+    is_thinking = level == "assistant" and entry.message.strip() == "(thinking)"
+
+    if entry.source == "user" and level == "info":
         msg = f'<span class="text-green-300 font-medium">{esc_md(entry.message)}</span>'
-    elif entry.level == "tool_call":
+    elif level == "tool_call":
         preview = entry.data.get("input_preview", "")
         msg = tool_call_html(preview)
-    elif entry.level == "tool_result":
+    elif level == "tool_result":
         text = entry.message[:500]
         if len(entry.message) > 500:
             text += "..."
         msg = f'<span class="text-gray-500">{esc(shorten_paths(text))}</span>'
-    elif entry.level == "assistant":
-        if entry.message.strip() == "(thinking)":
+    elif level == "assistant":
+        if is_thinking:
             msg = f'<span class="text-gray-500 italic">{esc(entry.message)}</span>'
         else:
             msg = f'<span class="text-gray-100">{esc_md(entry.message)}</span>'
-    elif entry.level == "error":
+    elif level == "error":
         msg = f'<span class="text-red-400 font-medium">{esc(entry.message)}</span>'
     else:
         msg = f'<span class="text-gray-300">{esc(entry.message)}</span>'
 
-    extra_div_classes = ""
-    if entry.level == "assistant" and entry.message.strip() == "(thinking)":
-        extra_div_classes = " border-t border-surface-800 mt-2 pt-1"
+    extra_div_classes = " border-t border-surface-800 mt-2 pt-1" if is_thinking else ""
 
-    is_tool = entry.level in ("tool_call", "tool_result")
+    is_tool = level in {"tool_call", "tool_result"}
     opacity = " opacity-60" if is_tool else ""
     indent = " pl-4" if is_tool else ""