diff --git a/models/spring-ai-vertex-ai-gemini/src/main/java/org/springframework/ai/vertexai/gemini/VertexAiGeminiChatModel.java b/models/spring-ai-vertex-ai-gemini/src/main/java/org/springframework/ai/vertexai/gemini/VertexAiGeminiChatModel.java
index 497a839140..faca97ae27 100644
--- a/models/spring-ai-vertex-ai-gemini/src/main/java/org/springframework/ai/vertexai/gemini/VertexAiGeminiChatModel.java
+++ b/models/spring-ai-vertex-ai-gemini/src/main/java/org/springframework/ai/vertexai/gemini/VertexAiGeminiChatModel.java
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ else if (message instanceof UserMessage userMessage) {
 		else if (message instanceof AssistantMessage assistantMessage) {
 			List<Part> parts = new ArrayList<>();
 			if (StringUtils.hasText(assistantMessage.getContent())) {
-				List.of(Part.newBuilder().setText(assistantMessage.getContent()).build());
+				parts.add(Part.newBuilder().setText(assistantMessage.getContent()).build());
 			}
 			if (!CollectionUtils.isEmpty(assistantMessage.getToolCalls())) {
 				parts.addAll(assistantMessage.getToolCalls()