diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/anthropic.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/anthropic.py
index 7b8ef09b79..0d2ddf3b9c 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/anthropic.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/anthropic.py
@@ -350,41 +350,42 @@ def convert_anthropic_to_openai_payload(anthropic_payload: dict) -> dict:
                     'function': {'name': tc.get('name', '')},
                 }
     # === Add logic to convert Anthropic thinking/reasoning parameters to OpenAI reasoning_effort ===
-    def map_effort_string(raw_str: str) -> str:
+    def get_reasoning_effort(effort_value: str) -> str:
         """Extract reasoning level via fuzzy matching, defaulting to safe compatible 'high' for max values."""
-        s = raw_str.lower()
-        if any(keyword in s for keyword in ('high', 'max', 'ultra')):
+        effort_lower = str(effort_value).lower()
+        if any(keyword in effort_lower for keyword in ('high', 'max', 'ultra')):
             return 'high'
-        elif 'low' in s:
+        if 'low' in effort_lower:
             return 'low'
-        else:
-            return 'medium'
+        return 'medium'
 
     # 1. Prioritize capturing output_config.effort from the latest Claude Code versions
-    if 'output_config' in anthropic_payload and isinstance(anthropic_payload['output_config'], dict):
-        effort_val = anthropic_payload['output_config'].get('effort')
-        if effort_val:
-            openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = map_effort_string(str(effort_val))
+    output_config = anthropic_payload.get('output_config')
+    if isinstance(output_config, dict) and 'effort' in output_config:
+        openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = get_reasoning_effort(output_config['effort'])
             
     # 2. Compatibility for effort field passed directly at the top level
     elif 'effort' in anthropic_payload:
-        openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = map_effort_string(str(anthropic_payload['effort']))
+        openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = get_reasoning_effort(anthropic_payload['effort'])
 
     # 3. Fallback handling for thinking field (supports both adaptive and legacy budget_tokens)
     if 'thinking' in anthropic_payload:
-        thinking_cfg = anthropic_payload['thinking']
-        if isinstance(thinking_cfg, dict):
-            # If using the latest adaptive thinking, and effort wasn't caught above, default to high intensity
-            if thinking_cfg.get('type') == 'adaptive' and 'reasoning_effort' not in openai_payload:
+        thinking = anthropic_payload['thinking']
+        if isinstance(thinking, dict):
+            thinking_type = thinking.get('type')
+            
+            # If using the latest adaptive thinking, and effort wasn't caught above
+            if thinking_type == 'adaptive' and 'reasoning_effort' not in openai_payload:
                 openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = 'high'
+                
             # Legacy budget_tokens logic
-            elif 'budget_tokens' in thinking_cfg and 'reasoning_effort' not in openai_payload:
-                budget = thinking_cfg.get('budget_tokens', 0)
-                if budget == 0:
+            elif 'budget_tokens' in thinking and 'reasoning_effort' not in openai_payload:
+                budget_tokens = thinking.get('budget_tokens', 0)
+                if budget_tokens == 0:
                     openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = 'medium'
-                elif budget < 4000:
+                elif budget_tokens < 4000:
                     openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = 'low'
-                elif budget < 8000:
+                elif budget_tokens < 8000:
                     openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = 'medium'
                 else:
                     openai_payload['reasoning_effort'] = 'high'