diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
index 6a3e4b6f5b..50d8617298 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
@@ -4784,6 +4784,9 @@ async def streaming_chat_response_handler(response, ctx):
                             'content': [{'type': 'output_text', 'text': initial_content}],
                         }
                     ]
+                    if not continuing:
+                        # the client needs this item before the first delta arrives
+                        await event_emitter({'type': 'chat:completion', 'data': {'output': output}})
                 else:
                     output = []