diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/realtime_streaming.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/realtime_streaming.py
index 530391c7b57..bb7fbd81146 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/realtime_streaming.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/realtime_streaming.py
@@ -1297,13 +1297,22 @@ class RealTimeStreaming:
         item["content"] = new_content
         return item
 
+    async def _receive_client_message(self) -> str | None:
+        try:
+            return await self.websocket.receive_text()
+        except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001  # whatever the client socket raises, the client is gone
+            verbose_logger.debug("Client disconnected: %s", e)
+            return None
+
     async def client_ack_messages(self) -> ClientLoopExit:
         import websockets
 
         client_event: _ClientEventFrame
         try:
             while True:
-                message = await self.websocket.receive_text()
+                message = await self._receive_client_message()
+                if message is None:
+                    return ClientLoopExit.CLIENT_DISCONNECTED
 
                 ## GUARDRAIL: intercept conversation.item.create for text-based injection.
                 guardrail_turn_detection_injected = False
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_realtime_streaming.py b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_realtime_streaming.py
index 41b7557f6b2..00addb613c2 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_realtime_streaming.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_realtime_streaming.py
@@ -3307,3 +3307,18 @@ async def test_client_hanging_up_first_ends_the_session_without_a_relayed_close(
     assert session.logging.logged_sessions == ((),)
     assert session.logging.logged_failures == ()
     client_ws.close.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_client_hanging_up_with_a_websockets_close_is_not_mistaken_for_the_backend_closing():
+    client_ws: Final = _client_ws_that_never_sends()
+    client_ws.receive_text = AsyncMock(side_effect=ConnectionClosed(None, None))
+    backend_ws: Final = MagicMock()
+    backend_ws.recv = AsyncMock(side_effect=_wait_forever)
+    session: Final = _relay_session(client_ws, backend_ws)
+
+    await session.run()
+
+    assert session.logging.logged_sessions == ((),)
+    assert session.logging.logged_failures == ()
+    client_ws.close.assert_not_awaited()