diff --git a/gateway/stream_consumer.py b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
index a0366037496..918c49ce85a 100644
--- a/gateway/stream_consumer.py
+++ b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
@@ -362,13 +362,21 @@ class GatewayStreamConsumer:
                         chunks = self.adapter.truncate_message(
                             self._accumulated, _safe_limit
                         )
+                        chunks_delivered = False
+                        reply_to = self._message_id
                         for chunk in chunks:
-                            await self._send_new_chunk(chunk, self._message_id)
+                            new_id = await self._send_new_chunk(chunk, reply_to)
+                            if new_id is not None and new_id != reply_to:
+                                chunks_delivered = True
                         self._accumulated = ""
                         self._last_sent_text = ""
                         self._last_edit_time = time.monotonic()
                         if got_done:
-                            self._final_response_sent = self._already_sent
+                            # Only claim final delivery if THESE chunks actually
+                            # landed.  ``_already_sent`` may be True from prior
+                            # tool-progress edits or fallback-mode promotion (#10748)
+                            # — that doesn't mean the final answer reached the user.
+                            self._final_response_sent = chunks_delivered
                             return
                         if got_segment_break:
                             self._message_id = None
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_stream_consumer.py b/tests/gateway/test_stream_consumer.py
index bc8df59191f..b5e423f9605 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_stream_consumer.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_stream_consumer.py
@@ -867,6 +867,78 @@ class TestSegmentBreakOnToolBoundary:
         assert consumer._final_response_sent is True
 
 
+class TestFinalResponseDeliveryGuard:
+    """Regression coverage for #10748 — _final_response_sent must reflect
+    actual delivery of the *current* chunked send, not the cumulative
+    `_already_sent` flag (which earlier tool-progress edits or fallback-mode
+    promotion can taint)."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_split_overflow_failed_send_does_not_mark_final_sent(self):
+        """Split-overflow path: if every chunk send fails on done frame,
+        _final_response_sent must stay False so the gateway falls back."""
+        adapter = MagicMock()
+        # Every send fails — _send_new_chunk returns the passed-in reply_to.
+        adapter.send = AsyncMock(
+            return_value=SimpleNamespace(success=False, error="network down"),
+        )
+        adapter.edit_message = AsyncMock(
+            return_value=SimpleNamespace(success=True),
+        )
+        adapter.MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH = 100
+        adapter.truncate_message = MagicMock(
+            side_effect=lambda text, limit: [text[:limit], text[limit:]],
+        )
+
+        config = StreamConsumerConfig(edit_interval=0.01, buffer_threshold=5)
+        consumer = GatewayStreamConsumer(adapter, "chat_123", config)
+
+        # Simulate prior tool-progress edits that set _already_sent
+        consumer._already_sent = True
+
+        # Long text > MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH, no existing message id (fresh send path)
+        long_text = "x" * 200
+        consumer.on_delta(long_text)
+        task = asyncio.create_task(consumer.run())
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+        consumer.finish()
+        await task
+
+        assert consumer._final_response_sent is False, (
+            "_already_sent leaked into _final_response_sent — gateway will "
+            "wrongly suppress its fallback delivery (#10748)"
+        )
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_split_overflow_partial_send_marks_final_sent(self):
+        """Split-overflow path: if at least one chunk lands on done frame,
+        we did deliver the final answer — _final_response_sent must be True."""
+        adapter = MagicMock()
+        adapter.send = AsyncMock(side_effect=[
+            SimpleNamespace(success=True, message_id="msg_1"),
+            SimpleNamespace(success=True, message_id="msg_2"),
+        ])
+        adapter.edit_message = AsyncMock(
+            return_value=SimpleNamespace(success=True),
+        )
+        adapter.MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH = 100
+        adapter.truncate_message = MagicMock(
+            side_effect=lambda text, limit: [text[:limit], text[limit:]],
+        )
+
+        config = StreamConsumerConfig(edit_interval=0.01, buffer_threshold=5)
+        consumer = GatewayStreamConsumer(adapter, "chat_123", config)
+
+        long_text = "x" * 200
+        consumer.on_delta(long_text)
+        task = asyncio.create_task(consumer.run())
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+        consumer.finish()
+        await task
+
+        assert consumer._final_response_sent is True
+
+
 class TestInterimCommentaryMessages:
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
     async def test_commentary_message_stays_separate_from_final_stream(self):