diff --git a/litellm/router_utils/fallback_event_handlers.py b/litellm/router_utils/fallback_event_handlers.py
index 17a8aba2d0c..4c8688a2d0b 100644
--- a/litellm/router_utils/fallback_event_handlers.py
+++ b/litellm/router_utils/fallback_event_handlers.py
@@ -40,6 +40,38 @@ def _prefill_explicitly_unsupported(model: str) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _resolve_dict_fallback_targets(
+    model_group: str, fallbacks: list[FallbackEntry]
+) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+    """Dict-format fallback targets configured for this group, mirroring
+    get_fallback_model_group's exact > stripped > wildcard priority. It iterates
+    directly rather than calling that helper because the helper pops string
+    entries mid-iteration, which skips the following entry and can drop a dict
+    target when a bare string precedes it in the list.
+    """
+    dict_entries = tuple(
+        (key, entry[key])
+        for entry in fallbacks
+        if isinstance(entry, dict) and entry
+        for key in (next(iter(entry)),)
+    )
+    exact = next((t for k, t in dict_entries if k == model_group), None)
+    if exact is not None:
+        return tuple(exact)
+    stripped = next(
+        (
+            t
+            for k, t in dict_entries
+            if _check_stripped_model_group(model_group=model_group, fallback_key=k)
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    if stripped is not None:
+        return tuple(stripped)
+    wildcard = next((t for k, t in dict_entries if k == "*"), None)
+    return tuple(wildcard or ())
+
+
 def _candidate_model_groups(
     model_group: str | None, fallbacks: list[FallbackEntry] | None
 ) -> tuple[str, ...]:
@@ -54,15 +86,8 @@ def _candidate_model_groups(
     if not fallbacks:
         return (model_group,)
     bare_strings = tuple(f for f in fallbacks if isinstance(f, str))
-    try:
-        # Copy: get_fallback_model_group pops string entries while iterating,
-        # which would mutate the caller's live fallbacks list.
-        dict_targets, _ = get_fallback_model_group(
-            fallbacks=list(fallbacks), model_group=model_group
-        )
-    except Exception:
-        dict_targets = None
-    return (model_group, *bare_strings, *(dict_targets or ()))
+    dict_targets = _resolve_dict_fallback_targets(model_group, fallbacks)
+    return (model_group, *bare_strings, *dict_targets)
 
 
 def _resolved_registry_model(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/router_utils/test_fallback_event_handlers.py b/tests/test_litellm/router_utils/test_fallback_event_handlers.py
index 6a2b9b92363..f856c601d6b 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/router_utils/test_fallback_event_handlers.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/router_utils/test_fallback_event_handlers.py
@@ -243,6 +243,51 @@ def test_resolver_returning_prefill_supporting_model_keeps_legacy():
     _assert_legacy_prefill(result)
 
 
+def test_string_before_dict_fallback_does_not_skip_dict_target():
+    """A bare string preceding a dict entry must not hide the dict's
+    prefill-rejecting target. get_fallback_model_group pops string entries while
+    iterating, which skips the next entry; candidate collection iterates dict
+    entries directly so the target is still classified."""
+    result = build_mid_stream_continuation_messages(
+        messages=MESSAGES,
+        generated_content=PARTIAL,
+        model_group="gpt-4",
+        fallbacks=["gpt-4o", {"gpt-4": ["claude-sonnet-4-6"]}],
+    )
+    assert len(result) == 2
+    assert result[1]["role"] == "user"
+    assert PARTIAL in result[1]["content"]
+    assert all(m.get("prefix") is not True for m in result)
+
+
+def test_stripped_model_group_fallback_is_classified():
+    """Wildcard routing matches a provider-stripped group name against the
+    fallback key (e.g. "openai/gpt-3.5-turbo" -> "gpt-3.5-turbo"); a
+    prefill-rejecting target behind such a key must still flip the continuation."""
+    result = build_mid_stream_continuation_messages(
+        messages=MESSAGES,
+        generated_content=PARTIAL,
+        model_group="openai/gpt-3.5-turbo",
+        fallbacks=[{"gpt-3.5-turbo": ["claude-sonnet-4-6"]}],
+    )
+    assert len(result) == 2
+    assert result[1]["role"] == "user"
+    assert PARTIAL in result[1]["content"]
+
+
+def test_exact_group_match_takes_priority_over_wildcard():
+    """When both an exact group match and a wildcard fallback are configured,
+    only the exact target is tried, so a prefill-rejecting model behind the
+    wildcard must not flip a prefill-supporting exact chain."""
+    result = build_mid_stream_continuation_messages(
+        messages=MESSAGES,
+        generated_content=PARTIAL,
+        model_group="gpt-4",
+        fallbacks=[{"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o"]}, {"*": ["claude-sonnet-4-6"]}],
+    )
+    _assert_legacy_prefill(result)
+
+
 def test_malformed_fallback_entry_does_not_crash():
     """A malformed fallback entry (e.g. an empty dict) makes the underlying
     fallback-group resolution raise; the capability check must swallow it and