diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index dead092..0a52a5b 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { FastMCP } from "fastmcp";
 import * as tools from "./tools/index.js";
+import { log } from "./util/log.js";
 
 const packageJson = JSON.parse(
 	readFileSync(new URL("../package.json", import.meta.url), "utf8"),
@@ -42,12 +43,10 @@ async function main() {
 		server.addTool(tools.redeemPositionsTool);
 		server.addTool(tools.getPositionsTool);
 
-		process.stderr.write(
-			"Trading features enabled (POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY is configured)\n",
-		);
+		log("Trading features enabled (POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY is configured)");
 	} else {
-		process.stderr.write(
-			"Read-only mode: Set POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY environment variable to enable trading features\n",
+		log(
+			"Read-only mode: Set POLYMARKET_PRIVATE_KEY environment variable to enable trading features",
 		);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/services/approvals.ts b/src/services/approvals.ts
index dc53270..5bf6aaa 100644
--- a/src/services/approvals.ts
+++ b/src/services/approvals.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 	utils,
 	Wallet,
 } from "ethers";
+import { log } from "../util/log.js";
 import { getConfig, POLYGON_ADDRESSES } from "./config.js";
 
 export type ApprovalCheck = {
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ export class PolymarketApprovals {
 			if (current.missing.includes(key)) {
 				const hash = await this.sendTx(fn, nonce++, waitConfs);
 				txHashes.push(hash);
-				process.stderr.write(`Approved ${label}: ${hash}\n`);
+				log(`Approved ${label}: ${hash}`);
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/services/redemption.ts b/src/services/redemption.ts
index 86c2671..608a545 100644
--- a/src/services/redemption.ts
+++ b/src/services/redemption.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  */
 
 import { type BigNumber, Contract, providers, Wallet } from "ethers";
+import { log } from "../util/log.js";
 import { getConfig, POLYGON_ADDRESSES } from "./config.js";
 
 // Parent collection ID for Polymarket (constant)
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ export class PolymarketRedemption {
 							"No CTF tokens to redeem. Balance is 0 - position may have already been redeemed.",
 					};
 				}
-				process.stderr.write(`Token balance: ${tokenBalance.toString()}\n`);
+				log(`Token balance: ${tokenBalance.toString()}`);
 			}
 
 			// Check if market is resolved
@@ -218,9 +219,9 @@ export class PolymarketRedemption {
 				const amounts: [bigint, bigint] =
 					outcomeIndex === 0 ? [tokenBalance, 0n] : [0n, tokenBalance];
 
-				process.stderr.write(`Redeeming negRisk position:` + "\n");
-				process.stderr.write(`  Condition ID: ${conditionIdBytes32}\n`);
-				process.stderr.write(`  Amounts: [${amounts[0]}, ${amounts[1]}]\n`);
+				log(`Redeeming negRisk position:`);
+				log(`  Condition ID: ${conditionIdBytes32}`);
+				log(`  Amounts: [${amounts[0]}, ${amounts[1]}]`);
 
 				const negRiskAdapter = this.getNegRiskAdapterContract();
 				tx = await negRiskAdapter.redeemPositions(conditionIdBytes32, amounts, {
@@ -238,11 +239,9 @@ export class PolymarketRedemption {
 					};
 				}
 
-				process.stderr.write(`Redeeming CTF position:` + "\n");
-				process.stderr.write(`  Condition ID: ${conditionIdBytes32}\n`);
-				process.stderr.write(
-					`  Winning index sets: [${winningIndexSets.join(", ")}]\n`,
-				);
+				log(`Redeeming CTF position:`);
+				log(`  Condition ID: ${conditionIdBytes32}`);
+				log(`  Winning index sets: [${winningIndexSets.join(", ")}]`);
 
 				const ctf = this.getCtfContract();
 				tx = await ctf.redeemPositions(
@@ -256,7 +255,7 @@ export class PolymarketRedemption {
 				);
 			}
 
-			process.stderr.write(`Transaction submitted: ${tx.hash}\n`);
+			log(`Transaction submitted: ${tx.hash}`);
 
 			// Wait for confirmation
 			const receipt = await tx.wait(1);
diff --git a/src/services/trading.ts b/src/services/trading.ts
index afee56c..e51d636 100644
--- a/src/services/trading.ts
+++ b/src/services/trading.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import type {
 } from "@polymarket/clob-client";
 import { ClobClient, OrderType, Side } from "@polymarket/clob-client";
 import { providers, Wallet } from "ethers";
+import { log } from "../util/log.js";
 import { PolymarketApprovals } from "./approvals.js";
 import { getConfig } from "./config.js";
 
@@ -112,11 +113,11 @@ export class PolymarketTrading {
 			cfg.funderAddress,
 		);
 
-		process.stderr.write("Polymarket trading client initialized\n");
-		process.stderr.write(`  - Signer: ${await ethersSigner.getAddress()}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`  - Signature Type: ${cfg.signatureType}\n`);
+		log("Polymarket trading client initialized");
+		log(`  - Signer: ${await ethersSigner.getAddress()}`);
+		log(`  - Signature Type: ${cfg.signatureType}`);
 		if (cfg.funderAddress) {
-			process.stderr.write(`  - Funder/Proxy: ${cfg.funderAddress}\n`);
+			log(`  - Funder/Proxy: ${cfg.funderAddress}`);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -253,12 +254,12 @@ export class PolymarketTrading {
 
 		const client = this.getClient();
 
-		process.stderr.write(`Placing ${args.side} order:\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`   Token: ${args.tokenId}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`   Price: ${args.price}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`   Size: ${args.size}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(
-			`   Market: negRisk=${marketParams.negRisk}, tickSize=${marketParams.tickSize}\n`,
+		log(`Placing ${args.side} order:`);
+		log(`   Token: ${args.tokenId}`);
+		log(`   Price: ${args.price}`);
+		log(`   Size: ${args.size}`);
+		log(
+			`   Market: negRisk=${marketParams.negRisk}, tickSize=${marketParams.tickSize}`,
 		);
 
 		return client.createAndPostOrder(
@@ -304,11 +305,11 @@ export class PolymarketTrading {
 
 		const client = this.getClient();
 
-		process.stderr.write(`Placing ${args.side} market order:\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`   Token: ${args.tokenId}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(`   Amount: ${args.amount}\n`);
-		process.stderr.write(
-			`   Market: negRisk=${marketParams.negRisk}, tickSize=${marketParams.tickSize}\n`,
+		log(`Placing ${args.side} market order:`);
+		log(`   Token: ${args.tokenId}`);
+		log(`   Amount: ${args.amount}`);
+		log(
+			`   Market: negRisk=${marketParams.negRisk}, tickSize=${marketParams.tickSize}`,
 		);
 
 		return client.createAndPostMarketOrder(
diff --git a/src/tools/cancel-all-orders.ts b/src/tools/cancel-all-orders.ts
index 2b89836..7c68f0c 100644
--- a/src/tools/cancel-all-orders.ts
+++ b/src/tools/cancel-all-orders.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const cancelAllOrdersSchema = z.object({});
 
@@ -8,15 +8,6 @@ export const cancelAllOrdersTool = {
 	name: "cancel_all_orders",
 	description: "Cancel all open orders for the authenticated account.",
 	parameters: cancelAllOrdersSchema,
-	execute: async (_args: z.infer<typeof cancelAllOrdersSchema>) => {
-		try {
-			const result = await tradeApi.cancelAllOrders();
-			return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
-	},
+	execute: async (_args: z.infer<typeof cancelAllOrdersSchema>) =>
+		withApprovalGuard(() => tradeApi.cancelAllOrders()),
 };
diff --git a/src/tools/cancel-order.ts b/src/tools/cancel-order.ts
index df154fc..5024c1b 100644
--- a/src/tools/cancel-order.ts
+++ b/src/tools/cancel-order.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const cancelOrderSchema = z.object({
 	orderId: z.string().describe("The unique identifier of the order to cancel"),
@@ -10,15 +10,6 @@ export const cancelOrderTool = {
 	name: "cancel_order",
 	description: "Cancel a specific order by its ID.",
 	parameters: cancelOrderSchema,
-	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof cancelOrderSchema>) => {
-		try {
-			const result = await tradeApi.cancelOrder(args.orderId);
-			return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
-	},
+	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof cancelOrderSchema>) =>
+		withApprovalGuard(() => tradeApi.cancelOrder(args.orderId)),
 };
diff --git a/src/tools/get-balance-allowance.ts b/src/tools/get-balance-allowance.ts
index e4c0b2f..7ffa816 100644
--- a/src/tools/get-balance-allowance.ts
+++ b/src/tools/get-balance-allowance.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { AssetType } from "@polymarket/clob-client";
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const getBalanceAllowanceSchema = z.object({
 	assetType: z
@@ -23,15 +23,6 @@ export const getBalanceAllowanceTool = {
 			asset_type: AssetType[args.assetType],
 		};
 		if (args.tokenID) params.token_id = args.tokenID;
-
-		try {
-			const result = await tradeApi.getBalanceAllowance(params);
-			return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
+		return withApprovalGuard(() => tradeApi.getBalanceAllowance(params));
 	},
 };
diff --git a/src/tools/place-market-order.ts b/src/tools/place-market-order.ts
index f251402..3a1ce46 100644
--- a/src/tools/place-market-order.ts
+++ b/src/tools/place-market-order.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const placeMarketOrderSchema = z.object({
 	tokenId: z.string().describe("The token ID of the market outcome to trade"),
@@ -24,20 +24,13 @@ export const placeMarketOrderTool = {
 	description:
 		"Place a market order that executes immediately at current market price. IMPORTANT: For BUY orders, amount is the dollar amount ($USD) you want to spend. For SELL orders, amount is the number of shares to sell. Example: amount=5, side=BUY means 'spend $5 to buy shares at market price'. Minimum $1 for BUY orders.",
 	parameters: placeMarketOrderSchema,
-	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof placeMarketOrderSchema>) => {
-		try {
-			const result = await tradeApi.placeMarketOrder({
+	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof placeMarketOrderSchema>) =>
+		withApprovalGuard(() =>
+			tradeApi.placeMarketOrder({
 				tokenId: args.tokenId,
 				amount: args.amount,
 				side: args.side,
 				...(args.orderType && { orderType: args.orderType }),
-			});
-			return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
-	},
+			}),
+		),
 };
diff --git a/src/tools/place-order.ts b/src/tools/place-order.ts
index d40d28b..fe4bd89 100644
--- a/src/tools/place-order.ts
+++ b/src/tools/place-order.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const placeOrderSchema = z.object({
 	tokenId: z.string().describe("The token ID of the market outcome to trade"),
@@ -31,21 +31,14 @@ export const placeOrderTool = {
 	description:
 		"Place a limit order on Polymarket at a specific price. Specify the number of shares (size) and price (0-1). For both BUY and SELL, you specify the number of shares you want to trade. Example: size=10, price=0.6 means buy/sell 10 shares at $0.60 per share (total: $6).",
 	parameters: placeOrderSchema,
-	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof placeOrderSchema>) => {
-		try {
-			const result = await tradeApi.placeOrder({
+	execute: async (args: z.infer<typeof placeOrderSchema>) =>
+		withApprovalGuard(() =>
+			tradeApi.placeOrder({
 				tokenId: args.tokenId,
 				price: args.price,
 				size: args.size,
 				side: args.side,
 				...(args.orderType && { orderType: args.orderType }),
-			});
-			return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
-	},
+			}),
+		),
 };
diff --git a/src/tools/update-balance-allowance.ts b/src/tools/update-balance-allowance.ts
index 83a56a3..918ba64 100644
--- a/src/tools/update-balance-allowance.ts
+++ b/src/tools/update-balance-allowance.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { AssetType } from "@polymarket/clob-client";
 import { z } from "zod";
-import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
 import { tradeApi } from "../services/trading.js";
+import { withApprovalGuard } from "../util/with-approval-guard.js";
 
 const updateBalanceAllowanceSchema = z.object({
 	assetType: z
@@ -23,19 +23,12 @@ export const updateBalanceAllowanceTool = {
 			asset_type: AssetType[args.assetType],
 		};
 		if (args.tokenID) params.token_id = args.tokenID;
-
-		try {
+		return withApprovalGuard(async () => {
 			await tradeApi.updateBalanceAllowance(params);
-			return JSON.stringify(
-				{ success: true, message: "Balance allowance updated successfully" },
-				null,
-				2,
-			);
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
-				return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
-			}
-			throw err;
-		}
+			return {
+				success: true,
+				message: "Balance allowance updated successfully",
+			};
+		});
 	},
 };
diff --git a/src/util/log.ts b/src/util/log.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6af4be3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/log.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+export function log(message: string): void {
+	process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+}
diff --git a/src/util/with-approval-guard.ts b/src/util/with-approval-guard.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5683c3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/with-approval-guard.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { ApprovalRequiredError } from "../services/approvals.js";
+
+export async function withApprovalGuard(
+	fn: () => Promise<unknown>,
+): Promise<string> {
+	try {
+		const result = await fn();
+		return JSON.stringify(result, null, 2);
+	} catch (err) {
+		if (err instanceof ApprovalRequiredError) {
+			return JSON.stringify(err, null, 2);
+		}
+		throw err;
+	}
+}