diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
index 76a2a0976..7d79e1d0b 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
@@ -776,7 +776,10 @@ async def process_chat_response(
                                     "content",
                                     message.get("content", "New Chat"),
                                 )
-                            )
+                            ).strip()
+
+                            if not title:
+                                title = messages[0].get("content", "New Chat")
 
                             Chats.update_chat_title_by_id(metadata["chat_id"], title)