diff --git a/src/cartsnitch_api/cache.py b/src/cartsnitch_api/cache.py
index 6766a8c..a5aa91b 100644
--- a/src/cartsnitch_api/cache.py
+++ b/src/cartsnitch_api/cache.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class CacheClient:
             return None
         if isinstance(value, bytes):
             return value.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
-        return value
+        return str(value)
 
     async def set(self, key: str, value: str, ttl_seconds: int = 300) -> None:
         if not self._client:
diff --git a/src/cartsnitch_api/middleware/rate_limit.py b/src/cartsnitch_api/middleware/rate_limit.py
index c6d5f21..ff1b218 100644
--- a/src/cartsnitch_api/middleware/rate_limit.py
+++ b/src/cartsnitch_api/middleware/rate_limit.py
@@ -121,10 +121,6 @@ if settings.rate_limit_redis_enabled:
         logger.warning("Failed to connect to Redis for rate limiting, using in-memory: %s", e)
         _use_redis = False
 
-_public_limiter: RateLimitBackend
-_auth_limiter: RateLimitBackend
-_auth_strict_limiter: RateLimitBackend
-
 if _use_redis and _redis_client:
     _public_limiter = RedisSlidingWindow(
         _redis_client, settings.rate_limit_requests, settings.rate_limit_window_seconds
@@ -151,8 +147,8 @@ def _get_client_ip(request: Request) -> str:
     """Extract client IP, respecting X-Forwarded-For behind a reverse proxy."""
     forwarded = request.headers.get("x-forwarded-for")
     if forwarded:
-        return forwarded.split(",")[0].strip()
-    return request.client.host if request.client else "unknown"
+        return str(forwarded.split(",")[0].strip())
+    return str(request.client.host) if request.client else "unknown"
 
 
 def _get_rate_limit_key(request: Request) -> tuple[str, RateLimitBackend]: