diff --git a/model/renderers/gemma4.go b/model/renderers/gemma4.go
index 663435e7b..7b186af9e 100644
--- a/model/renderers/gemma4.go
+++ b/model/renderers/gemma4.go
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ func (r *Gemma4Renderer) Render(messages []api.Message, tools []api.Tool, thinkV
 
 	// Emit system turn if there's a system/developer role, tools, or thinking.
 	hasThink := thinkValue != nil && thinkValue.Bool()
-	thinkingExplicitlyDisabled := thinkValue != nil && thinkValue.IsBool() && !thinkValue.Bool()
 	if hasSystemRole || len(tools) > 0 || hasThink {
 		sb.WriteString("<|turn>system\n")
 		if hasThink {
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ func (r *Gemma4Renderer) Render(messages []api.Message, tools []api.Tool, thinkV
 	// Generation prompt.
 	if prevMessageType != "tool_response" && prevMessageType != "tool_call" {
 		sb.WriteString("<|turn>model\n")
-		if !hasThink && !thinkingExplicitlyDisabled {
+		if !hasThink {
 			sb.WriteString("<|channel>thought\n<channel|>")
 		}
 	}