diff --git a/letta/llm_api/anthropic_client.py b/letta/llm_api/anthropic_client.py
index 6e737aa7..696fe9b2 100644
--- a/letta/llm_api/anthropic_client.py
+++ b/letta/llm_api/anthropic_client.py
@@ -291,10 +291,11 @@ class AnthropicClient(LLMClientBase):
             # Both drop heartbeats in the payload
             data["messages"] = drop_heartbeats(data["messages"])
             # And drop heartbeats in the tools
-            for tool in data["tools"]:
-                tool["input_schema"]["properties"].pop(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM, None)
-                if REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM in tool["input_schema"]["required"]:
-                    tool["input_schema"]["required"].remove(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM)
+            if "tools" in data:
+                for tool in data["tools"]:
+                    tool["input_schema"]["properties"].pop(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM, None)
+                    if REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM in tool["input_schema"]["required"]:
+                        tool["input_schema"]["required"].remove(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM)
 
         else:
             # Strip heartbeat pings if extended thinking
diff --git a/letta/llm_api/openai_client.py b/letta/llm_api/openai_client.py
index fb256ae3..0df9fb0f 100644
--- a/letta/llm_api/openai_client.py
+++ b/letta/llm_api/openai_client.py
@@ -458,15 +458,16 @@ class OpenAIClient(LLMClientBase):
         # So strip them manually for v3
         if agent_type == AgentType.letta_v1_agent:
             new_tools = []
-            for tool in data.tools:
-                # Remove request_heartbeat from the properties if it exists
-                if tool.function.parameters and "properties" in tool.function.parameters:
-                    tool.function.parameters["properties"].pop(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM, None)
-                    # Also remove from required list if present
-                    if "required" in tool.function.parameters and REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM in tool.function.parameters["required"]:
-                        tool.function.parameters["required"].remove(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM)
-                new_tools.append(tool.model_copy(deep=True))
-            data.tools = new_tools
+            if data.tools:
+                for tool in data.tools:
+                    # Remove request_heartbeat from the properties if it exists
+                    if tool.function.parameters and "properties" in tool.function.parameters:
+                        tool.function.parameters["properties"].pop(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM, None)
+                        # Also remove from required list if present
+                        if "required" in tool.function.parameters and REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM in tool.function.parameters["required"]:
+                            tool.function.parameters["required"].remove(REQUEST_HEARTBEAT_PARAM)
+                    new_tools.append(tool.model_copy(deep=True))
+                data.tools = new_tools
 
         if data.tools is not None and len(data.tools) > 0:
             # Convert to structured output style (which has 'strict' and no optionals)