diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/transformation.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/transformation.py
index b8b056b4bb4..5f097e444ab 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/transformation.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/transformation.py
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ class VertexAIGoogleGenAIConfig(GoogleGenAIConfig):
 
         vertex_contents = (
             [
-                {**content, "role": content.get("role", "user")} if isinstance(content, dict) else content
+                ({**content, "role": "user"} if "role" not in content else content)
+                if isinstance(content, dict)
+                else content
                 for content in contents
             ]
             if isinstance(contents, list)
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/test_transformation.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/test_transformation.py
index bfbabc43c19..c2eb74f4287 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/test_transformation.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/vertex_ai/google_genai/test_transformation.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ def test_transform_generate_content_request_defaults_omitted_role():
     contents = [
         {"parts": [{"text": "Hello"}]},
         {"role": "model", "parts": [{"text": "Hi"}]},
+        "Raw content",
     ]
 
     result = config.transform_generate_content_request(
@@ -20,5 +21,6 @@ def test_transform_generate_content_request_defaults_omitted_role():
     assert result["contents"] == [
         {"role": "user", "parts": [{"text": "Hello"}]},
         {"role": "model", "parts": [{"text": "Hi"}]},
+        "Raw content",
     ]
     assert "role" not in contents[0]