diff --git a/tools/cli/cli.cpp b/tools/cli/cli.cpp
index 4c2ae7a033..7c4342d6bf 100644
--- a/tools/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/tools/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ struct cli_context {
         inputs.parallel_tool_calls   = false;
         inputs.add_generation_prompt = true;
         inputs.reasoning_format      = COMMON_REASONING_FORMAT_DEEPSEEK;
-        inputs.enable_thinking       = common_chat_templates_support_enable_thinking(chat_params.tmpls.get());
+        inputs.enable_thinking       = chat_params.enable_thinking ? common_chat_templates_support_enable_thinking(chat_params.tmpls.get()) : false;
 
         // Apply chat template to the list of messages
         return common_chat_templates_apply(chat_params.tmpls.get(), inputs);