diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/openai_responses.py b/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/openai_responses.py
index dff4225c0..fc7cf2989 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/openai_responses.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/inline/agents/meta_reference/responses/openai_responses.py
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ class OpenAIResponsesImpl:
                 "Mutually exclusive parameters: 'previous_response_id' and 'conversation'. Ensure you are only providing one of these parameters."
             )
 
+        original_input = input  # needed for syncing to Conversations
         if conversation is not None:
             if not conversation.startswith("conv_"):
                 raise InvalidConversationIdError(conversation)
@@ -243,6 +244,7 @@ class OpenAIResponsesImpl:
 
         stream_gen = self._create_streaming_response(
             input=input,
+            original_input=original_input,
             model=model,
             instructions=instructions,
             previous_response_id=previous_response_id,
@@ -289,6 +291,7 @@ class OpenAIResponsesImpl:
         self,
         input: str | list[OpenAIResponseInput],
         model: str,
+        original_input: str | list[OpenAIResponseInput] | None = None,
         instructions: str | None = None,
         previous_response_id: str | None = None,
         conversation: str | None = None,
@@ -350,7 +353,9 @@ class OpenAIResponsesImpl:
             )
 
         if conversation and final_response:
-            await self._sync_response_to_conversation(conversation, all_input, final_response)
+            # for Conversations, we need to use the original_input if it's available, otherwise use input
+            sync_input = original_input if original_input is not None else input
+            await self._sync_response_to_conversation(conversation, sync_input, final_response)
 
     async def delete_openai_response(self, response_id: str) -> OpenAIDeleteResponseObject:
         return await self.responses_store.delete_response_object(response_id)
@@ -431,8 +436,4 @@ class OpenAIResponsesImpl:
         if conversation_items:
             adapter = TypeAdapter(list[ConversationItem])
             validated_items = adapter.validate_python(conversation_items)
-            try:
-                await self.conversations_api.add_items(conversation_id, validated_items)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.error(f"Failed to sync response {response.id} to conversation {conversation_id}: {e}")
-                # don't fail response creation if conversation sync fails
+            await self.conversations_api.add_items(conversation_id, validated_items)
diff --git a/tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_conversation_integration.py b/tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_openai_responses_conversations.py
similarity index 98%
rename from tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_conversation_integration.py
rename to tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_openai_responses_conversations.py
index c29aca55b..5a75ddf0d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_conversation_integration.py
+++ b/tests/unit/providers/agents/meta_reference/test_openai_responses_conversations.py
@@ -223,10 +223,11 @@ class TestMessageSyncing:
             id="resp_123", created_at=1234567890, model="test-model", object="response", output=[], status="completed"
         )
 
-        result = await responses_impl_with_conversations._sync_response_to_conversation(
-            "conv_test123", "Hello", mock_response
-        )
-        assert result is None
+        # matching the behavior of OpenAI here
+        with pytest.raises(Exception, match="API Error"):
+            await responses_impl_with_conversations._sync_response_to_conversation(
+                "conv_test123", "Hello", mock_response
+            )
 
     async def test_sync_unsupported_types(self, responses_impl_with_conversations):
         mock_response = OpenAIResponseObject(