diff --git a/llama-index-core/llama_index/core/agent/react/step.py b/llama-index-core/llama_index/core/agent/react/step.py
index 69df6ed4dca3d..beee2fdc55e1c 100644
--- a/llama-index-core/llama_index/core/agent/react/step.py
+++ b/llama-index-core/llama_index/core/agent/react/step.py
@@ -341,13 +341,13 @@ def _infer_stream_chunk_is_final(self, chunk: ChatResponse) -> bool:
         """
         latest_content = chunk.message.content
         if latest_content:
-            if not latest_content.startswith(
+            # doesn't follow thought-action format
+            if len(latest_content) > len("Thought") and not latest_content.startswith(
                 "Thought"
-            ):  # doesn't follow thought-action format
+            ):
+                return True
+            elif "Answer: " in latest_content:
                 return True
-            else:
-                if "Answer: " in latest_content:
-                    return True
         return False
 
     def _add_back_chunk_to_stream(