diff --git a/gateway/src/desklock_gateway/tatlock.py b/gateway/src/desklock_gateway/tatlock.py
index f7f2395..abab7e6 100644
--- a/gateway/src/desklock_gateway/tatlock.py
+++ b/gateway/src/desklock_gateway/tatlock.py
@@ -1,9 +1,19 @@
 """Client for the Tatlock butler's OpenAI-compatible chat API."""
 
+import re
+
 import httpx
 
 from .config import settings
 
+# Tatlock prefixes replies with <think> reasoning (Open WebUI convention).
+# Strip it: it must never reach TTS or the on-screen reply text.
+_THINK_RE = re.compile(r"<think>.*?</think>\s*", re.DOTALL)
+
+
+def strip_reasoning(text: str) -> str:
+    return _THINK_RE.sub("", text).strip()
+
 
 class TatlockClient:
     def __init__(self, base_url: str | None = None) -> None:
@@ -25,7 +35,7 @@ class TatlockClient:
             },
         )
         response.raise_for_status()
-        reply = response.json()["choices"][0]["message"]["content"]
+        reply = strip_reasoning(response.json()["choices"][0]["message"]["content"])
         self._history.append({"role": "assistant", "content": reply})
         return reply
 
diff --git a/gateway/tests/test_tatlock.py b/gateway/tests/test_tatlock.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..defc880
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gateway/tests/test_tatlock.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from desklock_gateway.tatlock import strip_reasoning
+
+
+def test_strip_reasoning_removes_think_block() -> None:
+    raw = "<think>\nDELEGATE: none\nREASON: simple\n</think>\nGood evening. I am Tatlock."
+    assert strip_reasoning(raw) == "Good evening. I am Tatlock."
+
+
+def test_strip_reasoning_passthrough_without_think() -> None:
+    assert strip_reasoning("Just an answer.") == "Just an answer."