diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
index f453687450b..580a522be18 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/streaming_handler.py
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ class CustomStreamWrapper:
             if reasoning_content:
                 if self.sent_first_thinking_block is False:
                     self.thinking_content += (
-                        model_response.choices[0].delta.content or ""
+                        model_response.choices[0].delta.content or "<thinking>"
                     ) + f"{model_response.choices[0].delta.reasoning_content}"
                     self.sent_first_thinking_block = True
                     return None
@@ -973,8 +973,8 @@ class CustomStreamWrapper:
                 and not self.sent_last_thinking_block
                 and model_response.choices[0].delta.content
             ):
-                self.thinking_content += ""
-                model_response.choices[0].delta.content = self.thinking_content
+                self.thinking_content += "</thinking>"
+                model_response.choices[0].delta.content += self.thinking_content
                 self.sent_last_thinking_block = True
 
         return model_response
diff --git a/litellm/types/utils.py b/litellm/types/utils.py
index b118b2634f9..c2c0a4c8bf0 100644
--- a/litellm/types/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/types/utils.py
@@ -584,14 +584,6 @@ class Delta(OpenAIObject):
         super(Delta, self).__init__(**params)
         add_provider_specific_fields(self, params.get("provider_specific_fields", {}))
         self.content = content
-
-        if litellm.merge_reasoning_content_in_choices:
-            self.content = (
-                (self.content or "") + f"<thinking>{reasoning_content}</thinking>"
-                if reasoning_content
-                else self.content
-            )
-
         self.role = role
         # Set default values and correct types
         self.function_call: Optional[Union[FunctionCall, Any]] = None