diff --git a/src/clean_agent_preview.py b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
index eeaac1239..d168657c1 100644
--- a/src/clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -4313,8 +4313,17 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                         history[-1]['content'] = content
                         yield event({'delta': content})
                         break
+                    research_expansion_due = (
+                        broad_current_web_request(direct_user_text)
+                        and successful_web_searches == 1
+                        and web_search_attempts < 2
+                        and not breadth_recovery_attempted
+                        and not search_completion_attempted
+                        and round_number < round_limit
+                    )
                     if (
-                        requested_web_source_links(direct_user_text)
+                        not research_expansion_due
+                        and requested_web_source_links(direct_user_text)
                         and successful_web_searches
                         and not re.search(r'https?://\S+', content or '')
                         and not citation_recovery_attempted
@@ -4341,7 +4350,8 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                         yield event({'type': 'completion_recovery', 'reason': 'requested_source_link_missing'})
                         continue
                     if (
-                        contentless_final_response(content)
+                        not research_expansion_due
+                        and contentless_final_response(content)
                         and answer_recovery_attempts == 0
                         and round_number < round_limit
                     ):
@@ -4359,14 +4369,7 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                         })
                         yield event({'type': 'completion_recovery', 'reason': 'contentless_answer'})
                         continue
-                    if (
-                        broad_current_web_request(direct_user_text)
-                        and successful_web_searches == 1
-                        and web_search_attempts < 2
-                        and not breadth_recovery_attempted
-                        and not search_completion_attempted
-                        and round_number < round_limit
-                    ):
+                    if research_expansion_due:
                         breadth_recovery_attempted = True
                         force_web_search_next_round = True
                         replace_streamed_draft_on_finish = True
diff --git a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
index e91ccf2b0..28d7e4b8d 100644
--- a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -1199,7 +1199,8 @@ async def test_stream_bounds_research_to_two_searches_fetch_then_synthesis(monke
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('embedded_article', [False, True])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('empty_second_search', [False, True])
-async def test_stream_retries_an_obviously_truncated_broad_web_answer(monkeypatch, embedded_article, empty_second_search):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('sources_requested', [False, True])
+async def test_stream_retries_an_obviously_truncated_broad_web_answer(monkeypatch, embedded_article, empty_second_search, sources_requested):
     """Broad current research expands, retrieves evidence, then synthesizes."""
     import src.clean_agent_preview as module
 
@@ -1286,7 +1287,7 @@ async def test_stream_retries_an_obviously_truncated_broad_web_answer(monkeypatc
     contract = resolve_full_inventory_contract(schemas=schemas, policy=ToolPolicy())
     raw = [chunk async for chunk in stream_preview(
         endpoint_url='http://test', model='test',
-        messages=[{'role': 'user', 'content': 'Latest news in AI?'}],
+        messages=[{'role': 'user', 'content': 'Latest news in AI?' + (' Include source links.' if sources_requested else '')}],
         headers={}, turn_contract=contract, session_id='test', owner='test',
         disabled_tools=set(), tool_policy=ToolPolicy(), max_rounds=5,
     )]