diff --git a/gateway/config.py b/gateway/config.py
index 4a753c6773b..a85221f5c2f 100644
--- a/gateway/config.py
+++ b/gateway/config.py
@@ -1188,8 +1188,12 @@ def load_gateway_config() -> GatewayConfig:
 
             # Map config.yaml keys → GatewayConfig.from_dict() schema.
             # Each key overwrites whatever gateway.json may have set.
+            # Precedence contract: key-presence at the TOP LEVEL wins; the
+            # nested gateway.* form is consulted only when the top-level key
+            # is absent (not merely falsy/mistyped), so a present-but-empty
+            # top-level value is never silently replaced by the nested one.
             sr = yaml_cfg.get("session_reset")
-            if not (sr and isinstance(sr, dict)) and isinstance(gateway_section, dict):
+            if "session_reset" not in yaml_cfg and isinstance(gateway_section, dict):
                 sr = gateway_section.get("session_reset")
             if sr and isinstance(sr, dict):
                 gw_data["default_reset_policy"] = sr
@@ -1208,7 +1212,7 @@ def load_gateway_config() -> GatewayConfig:
                     )
 
             stt_cfg = yaml_cfg.get("stt")
-            if not isinstance(stt_cfg, dict) and isinstance(gateway_section, dict):
+            if "stt" not in yaml_cfg and isinstance(gateway_section, dict):
                 stt_cfg = gateway_section.get("stt")
             if isinstance(stt_cfg, dict):
                 gw_data["stt"] = stt_cfg
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_config.py b/tests/gateway/test_config.py
index 562b2a3e77c..c43aaa2563d 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_config.py
@@ -827,6 +827,48 @@ class TestLoadGatewayConfig:
 
         assert config.always_log_local is True
 
+    def test_present_empty_top_level_session_reset_blocks_nested_fallback(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """Key-presence precedence: a present (even empty) top-level
+        session_reset must NOT be replaced by gateway.session_reset —
+        the fallback fires only when the top-level key is absent."""
+        hermes_home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        hermes_home.mkdir()
+        config_path = hermes_home / "config.yaml"
+        config_path.write_text(
+            "session_reset: {}\n"
+            "gateway:\n"
+            "  session_reset:\n"
+            "    mode: idle\n"
+            "    idle_minutes: 30\n",
+            encoding="utf-8",
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
+
+        config = load_gateway_config()
+
+        # The nested value must not leak through the present top-level key.
+        assert config.default_reset_policy.mode != "idle"
+
+    def test_present_top_level_stt_blocks_nested_fallback(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """Key-presence precedence for stt: a present top-level stt (even
+        mistyped/non-dict) must not be replaced by gateway.stt."""
+        hermes_home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+        hermes_home.mkdir()
+        config_path = hermes_home / "config.yaml"
+        config_path.write_text(
+            "stt: {}\n"
+            "gateway:\n"
+            "  stt:\n"
+            "    enabled: false\n",
+            encoding="utf-8",
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(hermes_home))
+
+        config = load_gateway_config()
+
+        # gateway.stt.enabled=false must NOT win over the present top-level stt.
+        assert config.stt_enabled is True
+
     def test_relay_platform_enabled_from_env_url(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         """GATEWAY_RELAY_URL must enable Platform.RELAY in config.platforms so
         start_gateway()'s connect loop actually dials the connector. Registering