diff --git a/griptape/drivers/prompt/amazon_bedrock_prompt_driver.py b/griptape/drivers/prompt/amazon_bedrock_prompt_driver.py
index b108180d2..598a12485 100644
--- a/griptape/drivers/prompt/amazon_bedrock_prompt_driver.py
+++ b/griptape/drivers/prompt/amazon_bedrock_prompt_driver.py
@@ -102,11 +102,12 @@ def try_stream(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> Iterator[DeltaMessage]:
             raise Exception("model response is empty")
 
     def _base_params(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> dict:
-        system_messages = [{"text": message.to_text()} for message in prompt_stack.system_messages]
+        from griptape.tools.structured_output.tool import StructuredOutputTool
 
+        system_messages = [{"text": message.to_text()} for message in prompt_stack.system_messages]
         messages = self.__to_bedrock_messages([message for message in prompt_stack.messages if not message.is_system()])
 
-        return {
+        params = {
             "modelId": self.model,
             "messages": messages,
             "system": system_messages,
@@ -123,6 +124,14 @@ def _base_params(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> dict:
             **self.extra_params,
         }
 
+        if not self.use_native_structured_output and prompt_stack.output_schema is not None:
+            structured_ouptut_tool = StructuredOutputTool(output_schema=prompt_stack.output_schema)
+            params["tool_choice"] = {"any": {}}
+            if structured_ouptut_tool not in prompt_stack.tools:
+                prompt_stack.tools.append(structured_ouptut_tool)
+
+        return params
+
     def __to_bedrock_messages(self, messages: list[Message]) -> list[dict]:
         return [
             {
diff --git a/griptape/drivers/prompt/base_prompt_driver.py b/griptape/drivers/prompt/base_prompt_driver.py
index e964f0fe7..229269f65 100644
--- a/griptape/drivers/prompt/base_prompt_driver.py
+++ b/griptape/drivers/prompt/base_prompt_driver.py
@@ -60,13 +60,6 @@ class BasePromptDriver(SerializableMixin, ExponentialBackoffMixin, ABC):
     extra_params: dict = field(factory=dict, kw_only=True, metadata={"serializable": True})
 
     def before_run(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> None:
-        from griptape.tools.structured_output.tool import StructuredOutputTool
-
-        if not self.use_native_structured_output and prompt_stack.output_schema is not None:
-            structured_ouptut_tool = StructuredOutputTool(output_schema=prompt_stack.output_schema)
-            if structured_ouptut_tool not in prompt_stack.tools:
-                prompt_stack.tools.append(structured_ouptut_tool)
-
         EventBus.publish_event(StartPromptEvent(model=self.model, prompt_stack=prompt_stack))
 
     def after_run(self, result: Message) -> None:
diff --git a/griptape/drivers/prompt/openai_chat_prompt_driver.py b/griptape/drivers/prompt/openai_chat_prompt_driver.py
index f0468cd02..aefb379b4 100644
--- a/griptape/drivers/prompt/openai_chat_prompt_driver.py
+++ b/griptape/drivers/prompt/openai_chat_prompt_driver.py
@@ -144,6 +144,15 @@ def try_stream(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> Iterator[DeltaMessage]:
                 yield DeltaMessage(content=self.__to_prompt_stack_delta_message_content(delta))
 
     def _base_params(self, prompt_stack: PromptStack) -> dict:
+        from griptape.tools.structured_output.tool import StructuredOutputTool
+
+        tools = prompt_stack.tools
+        if not self.use_native_structured_output and prompt_stack.output_schema is not None:
+            structured_ouptut_tool = StructuredOutputTool(output_schema=prompt_stack.output_schema)
+            params["tool_choice"] = "required"
+            if structured_ouptut_tool not in prompt_stack.tools:
+                prompt_stack.tools.append(structured_ouptut_tool)
+
         params = {
             "model": self.model,
             "temperature": self.temperature,
diff --git a/griptape/tasks/toolkit_task.py b/griptape/tasks/toolkit_task.py
index 6b0cb8c9b..821ee8177 100644
--- a/griptape/tasks/toolkit_task.py
+++ b/griptape/tasks/toolkit_task.py
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ def prompt_stack(self) -> PromptStack:
         stack = PromptStack(tools=self.tools, output_schema=self.output_schema)
         memory = self.structure.conversation_memory if self.structure is not None else None
 
-        stack.add_system_message(self.generate_system_template(self))
+        if system_prompt := self.generate_system_template(self):
+            stack.add_system_message(system_prompt)
 
         stack.add_user_message(self.input)
 
diff --git a/griptape/templates/tasks/toolkit_task/system.j2 b/griptape/templates/tasks/toolkit_task/system.j2
index e9ec48739..e69de29bb 100644
--- a/griptape/templates/tasks/toolkit_task/system.j2
+++ b/griptape/templates/tasks/toolkit_task/system.j2
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-You can think step-by-step and execute actions sequentially or in parallel to get your final answer.
-{% if not use_native_tools %}
-
-You must use the following format when executing actions:
-
-Thought: <your step-by-step thought process describing what actions you need to use>
-Actions: <JSON array of actions that MUST follow this schema: {{ actions_schema }}>
-{{ stop_sequence }}: <action outputs>
-"Thought", "Actions", "{{ stop_sequence }}" must always start on a new line.
-
-You must use the following format when providing your final answer:
-Answer: <final answer>
-{% endif %}
-Repeat executing actions as many times as you need.
-If an action's output contains an error, you MUST ALWAYS try to fix the error by executing another action. 
-
-Be truthful. ALWAYS be proactive and NEVER ask the user for more information input. Keep using actions until you have your final answer.
-NEVER make up actions, action names, or action paths. NEVER make up facts. NEVER reference tags in other action input values.
-{% if meta_memory %}
-
-{{ meta_memory }}
-{% endif %}
-{% if rulesets %}
-
-{{ rulesets }}
-{% endif %}