diff --git a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/agentspeak_generator.py b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/agentspeak_generator.py
index 21dc479..68d1393 100644
--- a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/agentspeak_generator.py
+++ b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/agentspeak_generator.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from control_backend.agents.bdi.agentspeak_ast import (
     AstBinaryOp,
     AstExpression,
     AstLiteral,
+    AstNumber,
     AstPlan,
     AstProgram,
     AstRule,
@@ -44,7 +45,11 @@ class AgentSpeakGenerator:
     def generate(self, program: Program) -> str:
         self._asp = AstProgram()
 
-        self._asp.rules.append(AstRule(self._astify(program.phases[0])))
+        if program.phases:
+            self._asp.rules.append(AstRule(self._astify(program.phases[0])))
+        else:
+            self._asp.rules.append(AstRule(AstLiteral("phase", [AstString("end")])))
+
         self._add_keyword_inference()
         self._add_default_plans()
 
@@ -72,6 +77,7 @@ class AgentSpeakGenerator:
         self._add_reply_with_goal_plan()
         self._add_say_plan()
         self._add_reply_plan()
+        self._add_notify_cycle_plan()
 
     def _add_reply_with_goal_plan(self):
         self._asp.plans.append(
@@ -134,6 +140,19 @@ class AgentSpeakGenerator:
             )
         )
 
+    def _add_notify_cycle_plan(self):
+        self._asp.plans.append(
+            AstPlan(
+                TriggerType.ADDED_GOAL,
+                AstLiteral("notify_cycle"),
+                [],
+                [
+                    AstStatement(StatementType.DO_ACTION, AstLiteral("notify_ui")),
+                    AstStatement(StatementType.DO_ACTION, AstLiteral("wait", [AstNumber(1)])),
+                ],
+            )
+        )
+
     def _process_phases(self, phases: list[Phase]) -> None:
         for curr_phase, next_phase in zip([None] + phases, phases + [None], strict=True):
             if curr_phase:
@@ -148,7 +167,9 @@ class AgentSpeakGenerator:
                 trigger_literal=AstLiteral("user_said", [AstVar("Message")]),
                 context=[AstLiteral("phase", [AstString("end")])],
                 body=[
-                    AstStatement(StatementType.DO_ACTION, AstLiteral("notify_user_said")),
+                    AstStatement(
+                        StatementType.DO_ACTION, AstLiteral("notify_user_said", [AstVar("Message")])
+                    ),
                     AstStatement(StatementType.ACHIEVE_GOAL, AstLiteral("reply")),
                 ],
             )
diff --git a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_core_agent.py b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_core_agent.py
index 5b24c5d..9f8e2e4 100644
--- a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_core_agent.py
+++ b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_core_agent.py
@@ -342,14 +342,11 @@ class BDICoreAgent(BaseAgent):
             norm_update_message = InternalMessage(
                 to=settings.agent_settings.user_interrupt_name,
                 thread="active_norms_update",
-                body=norms,
+                body=str(norms),
             )
 
             self.add_behavior(self.send(norm_update_message))
 
-            self.logger.debug("Norms: %s", norms)
-            self.logger.debug("User text: %s", message_text)
-
             self.add_behavior(self._send_to_llm(str(message_text), str(norms), ""))
             yield
 
@@ -369,13 +366,6 @@ class BDICoreAgent(BaseAgent):
             )
 
             self.add_behavior(self.send(norm_update_message))
-
-            self.logger.debug(
-                '"reply_with_goal" action called with message=%s, norms=%s, goal=%s',
-                message_text,
-                norms,
-                goal,
-            )
             self.add_behavior(self._send_to_llm(str(message_text), str(norms), str(goal)))
             yield
 
diff --git a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_program_manager.py b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_program_manager.py
index 25b7364..75ea757 100644
--- a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_program_manager.py
+++ b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/bdi_program_manager.py
@@ -279,8 +279,10 @@ class BDIProgramManager(BaseAgent):
         Initialize the agent.
 
         Connects the internal ZMQ SUB socket and subscribes to the 'program' topic.
-        Starts the background behavior to receive programs.
+        Starts the background behavior to receive programs. Initializes a default program.
         """
+        await self._create_agentspeak_and_send_to_bdi(Program(phases=[]))
+
         context = Context.instance()
 
         self.sub_socket = context.socket(zmq.SUB)
diff --git a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/default_behavior.asl b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/default_behavior.asl
index f7d1f95..b4d6682 100644
--- a/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/default_behavior.asl
+++ b/src/control_backend/agents/bdi/default_behavior.asl
@@ -1,13 +1,34 @@
-norm("Be friendly").
+phase("end").
+keyword_said(Keyword) :- (user_said(Message) & .substring(Keyword, Message, Pos)) & (Pos >= 0).
+
+
++!reply_with_goal(Goal)
+  :   user_said(Message)
+  <-  +responded_this_turn;
+      .findall(Norm, norm(Norm), Norms);
+      .reply_with_goal(Message, Norms, Goal).
+
++!say(Text)
+  <-  +responded_this_turn;
+      .say(Text).
 
 +!reply
   :   user_said(Message)
-  <-  .findall(Norm, norm(Norm), Norms);
+  <-  +responded_this_turn;
+      .findall(Norm, norm(Norm), Norms);
       .reply(Message, Norms).
 
++!notify_cycle
+  <-  .notify_ui;
+      .wait(1).
+
 +user_said(Message)
+  :   phase("end")
   <-  .notify_user_said(Message);
       !reply.
 
-+!transition_phase <- true.
-+!check_triggers <- true.
\ No newline at end of file
++!check_triggers
+  <-  true.
+
++!transition_phase
+  <-  true.