diff --git a/api/app/clients/OpenAIClient.js b/api/app/clients/OpenAIClient.js
index 76b0bdf8dc..8329a8b148 100644
--- a/api/app/clients/OpenAIClient.js
+++ b/api/app/clients/OpenAIClient.js
@@ -1464,7 +1464,11 @@ ${convo}
         (err instanceof OpenAI.OpenAIError && err?.message?.includes('missing finish_reason'))
       ) {
         logger.error('[OpenAIClient] Known OpenAI error:', err);
-        return intermediateReply.join('');
+        if (intermediateReply.length > 0) {
+          return intermediateReply.join('');
+        } else {
+          throw err;
+        }
       } else if (err instanceof OpenAI.APIError) {
         if (intermediateReply.length > 0) {
           return intermediateReply.join('');