What i need to do is this

```
if (isset($message))
{
    $message = $message . $new_message;
}
else
{
    $message = $new_message;
}

```

Is there a simple way to do this with no `if` ?

I tried

```
$message .= $new_message;

```

But when `$message` is not set, i get Severity Notice `Undefined property`

The reason i need to do this is i show errors/messages with `$message` in views and if i simply do `$message = $new_message;` older errors/messages are gone.

Any help/method is appreciated.