diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
index a9ef06c3b4f..a31400f9f6e 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
@@ -1129,6 +1129,7 @@ class CustomStreamWrapper:
                 and model_response.choices[0].delta.role is not None
             )
             or (getattr(model_response.choices[0].delta, "reasoning_items", None) is not None)
+            or (getattr(model_response.choices[0].delta, "refusal", None) is not None)
         ):
             return True
         else:
diff --git a/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_streaming_handler.py b/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_streaming_handler.py
index cf8de9c40f5..3be8813ba96 100644
--- a/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_streaming_handler.py
+++ b/tests/unit/litellm_core_utils/test_streaming_handler.py
@@ -276,6 +276,31 @@ def test_is_chunk_non_empty(initialized_custom_stream_wrapper: CustomStreamWrapp
     )
 
 
+def test_is_chunk_non_empty_with_refusal(
+    initialized_custom_stream_wrapper: CustomStreamWrapper,
+):
+    """Unit test if non-empty when the delta carries only a refusal"""
+    chunk: Final = {
+        "id": "chatcmpl-abc",
+        "object": "chat.completion.chunk",
+        "created": 1700000000,
+        "model": "m",
+        "choices": [
+            {
+                "index": 0,
+                "delta": {"refusal": "I can't help"},
+                "logprobs": None,
+                "finish_reason": None,
+            }
+        ],
+    }
+    assert initialized_custom_stream_wrapper.is_chunk_non_empty(
+        completion_obj=MagicMock(),
+        model_response=ModelResponseStream(**chunk),
+        response_obj=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+
 def test_is_chunk_non_empty_with_annotations(
     initialized_custom_stream_wrapper: CustomStreamWrapper,
 ):