diff --git a/api/services/pipecat/realtime/gemini_live.py b/api/services/pipecat/realtime/gemini_live.py
index 6b85a4a4..c7384de8 100644
--- a/api/services/pipecat/realtime/gemini_live.py
+++ b/api/services/pipecat/realtime/gemini_live.py
@@ -214,6 +214,23 @@ class DograhGeminiLiveLLMService(GeminiLiveLLMService):
         )
         self._schedule_node_transition_function_calls(fcs)
 
+    async def _disconnect_for_reconnect(self) -> bool:
+        """Disconnect without discarding a pending graceful shutdown.
+
+        Returns:
+            ``True`` when the caller should open a new Gemini session.
+            ``False`` when a deferred :class:`EndFrame` was released instead.
+        """
+        await self._disconnect(preserve_pending_end_frame=True)
+        if not self._end_frame_pending_bot_turn_finished:
+            return True
+
+        logger.info(
+            "Releasing deferred EndFrame instead of reconnecting Gemini service"
+        )
+        await self._release_deferred_end_frame()
+        return False
+
     async def _reconnect_for_node_transition(self) -> None:
         """Start a fresh connection and wait to seed the completed context.
 
@@ -227,7 +244,14 @@ class DograhGeminiLiveLLMService(GeminiLiveLLMService):
         self._node_transition_context_received = False
         self._node_transition_context_seed_started = False
         self._session_resumption_handle = None
-        await self._disconnect()
+        should_open_new_session = await self._disconnect_for_reconnect()
+        if not should_open_new_session:
+            # The helper released a deferred EndFrame, so graceful shutdown now
+            # owns the lifecycle and this node transition must not reconnect.
+            self._awaiting_node_transition_context = False
+            self._node_transition_context_received = False
+            self._node_transition_context_seed_started = False
+            return
         await self._connect(session_resumption_handle=None)
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/api/tests/test_gemini_live_reconnect_tool_results.py b/api/tests/test_gemini_live_reconnect_tool_results.py
index 42031d2b..e72a7d99 100644
--- a/api/tests/test_gemini_live_reconnect_tool_results.py
+++ b/api/tests/test_gemini_live_reconnect_tool_results.py
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import asyncio
 import json
 from types import SimpleNamespace
-from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 
 import pytest
 from pipecat.frames.frames import (
+    EndFrame,
     NodeTransitionStartedFrame,
     TranscriptionFrame,
     TTSSpeakFrame,
@@ -292,10 +293,36 @@ async def test_node_transition_uses_fresh_connection_instead_of_stale_handle():
     assert handled == {"system_instruction"}
     assert service._session_resumption_handle is None
     assert service._awaiting_node_transition_context is True
-    service._disconnect.assert_awaited_once()
+    service._disconnect.assert_awaited_once_with(preserve_pending_end_frame=True)
     service._connect.assert_awaited_once_with(session_resumption_handle=None)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_node_transition_releases_deferred_end_frame_instead_of_reconnecting():
+    service = _make_service()
+    service._session = _FakeSession()
+    service._connect = AsyncMock()
+    service.queue_frame = AsyncMock()
+    service._bot_is_responding = True
+
+    end_frame = EndFrame(reason="user_idle_max_duration_exceeded")
+    timeout_task = MagicMock()
+    timeout_task.done.return_value = False
+    service._end_frame_pending_bot_turn_finished = end_frame
+    service._end_frame_deferral_timeout_task = timeout_task
+
+    await service._reconnect_for_node_transition()
+
+    service.queue_frame.assert_awaited_once_with(end_frame)
+    service._connect.assert_not_awaited()
+    timeout_task.cancel.assert_called_once_with()
+    assert service._end_frame_pending_bot_turn_finished is None
+    assert service._end_frame_deferral_timeout_task is None
+    assert service._awaiting_node_transition_context is False
+    assert service._node_transition_context_received is False
+    assert service._node_transition_context_seed_started is False
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_fresh_transition_session_waits_for_updated_context_before_ready():
     service = _make_service()
diff --git a/pipecat b/pipecat
index aadd1d5d..0de21c0b 160000
--- a/pipecat
+++ b/pipecat
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit aadd1d5dd606d2871b082e6f2ca1ad1eee53785b
+Subproject commit 0de21c0bc9fa4b42f07df5a57b44a759dadc1560