diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index 832592d40..45dd4f2b6 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -1518,6 +1518,21 @@ impl Session {
         format!("auto-compact-{id}")
     }
 
+    pub(crate) async fn route_realtime_text_input(self: &Arc<Self>, text: String) {
+        handlers::user_input_or_turn(
+            self,
+            self.next_internal_sub_id(),
+            Op::UserInput {
+                items: vec![UserInput::Text {
+                    text,
+                    text_elements: Vec::new(),
+                }],
+                final_output_json_schema: None,
+            },
+        )
+        .await;
+    }
+
     pub(crate) async fn get_total_token_usage(&self) -> i64 {
         let state = self.state.lock().await;
         state.get_total_token_usage(state.server_reasoning_included())
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/realtime_conversation.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/realtime_conversation.rs
index b67874593..b1540ca94 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/realtime_conversation.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/realtime_conversation.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeConversationClosedEvent;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeConversationStartedEvent;
 use http::HeaderMap;
+use serde_json::Value;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use tokio::task::JoinHandle;
@@ -209,11 +210,22 @@ pub(crate) async fn handle_start(
             msg,
         };
         while let Ok(event) = events_rx.recv().await {
+            let maybe_routed_text = match &event {
+                RealtimeEvent::ConversationItemAdded(item) => {
+                    realtime_text_from_conversation_item(item)
+                }
+                _ => None,
+            };
             sess_clone
                 .send_event_raw(ev(EventMsg::RealtimeConversationRealtime(
-                    RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent { payload: event },
+                    RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent {
+                        payload: event.clone(),
+                    },
                 )))
                 .await;
+            if let Some(text) = maybe_routed_text {
+                sess_clone.route_realtime_text_input(text).await;
+            }
         }
         if let Some(()) = sess_clone.conversation.running_state().await {
             sess_clone
@@ -239,6 +251,19 @@ pub(crate) async fn handle_audio(
     }
 }
 
+fn realtime_text_from_conversation_item(item: &Value) -> Option<String> {
+    if item.get("type").and_then(Value::as_str) != Some("message") {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let content = item.get("content")?.as_array()?;
+    let text = content
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|entry| entry.get("type").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("text"))
+        .filter_map(|entry| entry.get("text").and_then(Value::as_str))
+        .collect::<String>();
+    if text.is_empty() { None } else { Some(text) }
+}
+
 pub(crate) async fn handle_text(
     sess: &Arc<Session>,
     sub_id: String,
@@ -355,3 +380,64 @@ async fn send_conversation_error(
     })
     .await;
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::realtime_text_from_conversation_item;
+    use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extracts_text_from_message_items_ignoring_role() {
+        let assistant = json!({
+            "type": "message",
+            "role": "assistant",
+            "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "hello"}],
+        });
+        assert_eq!(
+            realtime_text_from_conversation_item(&assistant),
+            Some("hello".to_string())
+        );
+
+        let user = json!({
+            "type": "message",
+            "role": "user",
+            "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "world"}],
+        });
+        assert_eq!(
+            realtime_text_from_conversation_item(&user),
+            Some("world".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extracts_and_concatenates_text_entries_only() {
+        let item = json!({
+            "type": "message",
+            "content": [
+                {"type": "text", "text": "a"},
+                {"type": "ignored", "text": "x"},
+                {"type": "text", "text": "b"}
+            ],
+        });
+        assert_eq!(
+            realtime_text_from_conversation_item(&item),
+            Some("ab".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ignores_non_message_or_missing_text() {
+        let non_message = json!({
+            "type": "tool_call",
+            "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "nope"}],
+        });
+        assert_eq!(realtime_text_from_conversation_item(&non_message), None);
+
+        let no_text = json!({
+            "type": "message",
+            "content": [{"type": "other", "value": 1}],
+        });
+        assert_eq!(realtime_text_from_conversation_item(&no_text), None);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/realtime_conversation.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/realtime_conversation.rs
index 466686788..ee4f139f6 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/realtime_conversation.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/realtime_conversation.rs
@@ -9,13 +9,21 @@ use codex_protocol::protocol::Op;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeAudioFrame;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeEvent;
+use codex_protocol::user_input::UserInput;
+use core_test_support::responses;
+use core_test_support::responses::start_mock_server;
 use core_test_support::responses::start_websocket_server;
 use core_test_support::skip_if_no_network;
+use core_test_support::streaming_sse::StreamingSseChunk;
+use core_test_support::streaming_sse::start_streaming_sse_server;
 use core_test_support::test_codex::test_codex;
+use core_test_support::wait_for_event;
 use core_test_support::wait_for_event_match;
 use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
+use serde_json::Value;
 use serde_json::json;
 use std::time::Duration;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
 async fn conversation_start_audio_text_close_round_trip() -> Result<()> {
@@ -29,22 +37,12 @@ async fn conversation_start_audio_text_close_round_trip() -> Result<()> {
                 "session": { "id": "sess_1" }
             })],
             vec![],
-            vec![
-                json!({
-                    "type": "response.output_audio.delta",
-                    "delta": "AQID",
-                    "sample_rate": 24000,
-                    "num_channels": 1
-                }),
-                json!({
-                    "type": "conversation.item.added",
-                    "item": {
-                        "type": "message",
-                        "role": "assistant",
-                        "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "hi"}]
-                    }
-                }),
-            ],
+            vec![json!({
+                "type": "response.output_audio.delta",
+                "delta": "AQID",
+                "sample_rate": 24000,
+                "num_channels": 1
+            })],
         ],
     ])
     .await;
@@ -458,3 +456,237 @@ async fn conversation_uses_experimental_realtime_ws_backend_prompt_override() ->
     server.shutdown().await;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+fn sse_event(event: Value) -> String {
+    responses::sse(vec![event])
+}
+
+fn message_input_texts(body: &Value, role: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+    body.get("input")
+        .and_then(Value::as_array)
+        .into_iter()
+        .flatten()
+        .filter(|item| item.get("type").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("message"))
+        .filter(|item| item.get("role").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some(role))
+        .filter_map(|item| item.get("content").and_then(Value::as_array))
+        .flatten()
+        .filter(|span| span.get("type").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("input_text"))
+        .filter_map(|span| span.get("text").and_then(Value::as_str).map(str::to_owned))
+        .collect()
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
+async fn inbound_realtime_text_starts_turn_and_ignores_role() -> Result<()> {
+    skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
+
+    let api_server = start_mock_server().await;
+    let response_mock = responses::mount_sse_once(
+        &api_server,
+        responses::sse(vec![
+            responses::ev_response_created("resp-1"),
+            responses::ev_assistant_message("msg-1", "ok"),
+            responses::ev_completed("resp-1"),
+        ]),
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    let realtime_server = start_websocket_server(vec![vec![vec![
+        json!({
+            "type": "session.created",
+            "session": { "id": "sess_inbound" }
+        }),
+        json!({
+            "type": "conversation.item.added",
+            "item": {
+                "type": "message",
+                "role": "user",
+                "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "text from realtime"}]
+            }
+        }),
+    ]]])
+    .await;
+
+    let mut builder = test_codex().with_config({
+        let realtime_base_url = realtime_server.uri().to_string();
+        move |config| {
+            config.experimental_realtime_ws_base_url = Some(realtime_base_url);
+        }
+    });
+    let test = builder.build(&api_server).await?;
+
+    test.codex
+        .submit(Op::RealtimeConversationStart(ConversationStartParams {
+            prompt: "backend prompt".to_string(),
+            session_id: None,
+        }))
+        .await?;
+
+    let session_created = wait_for_event_match(&test.codex, |msg| match msg {
+        EventMsg::RealtimeConversationRealtime(RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent {
+            payload: RealtimeEvent::SessionCreated { session_id },
+        }) => Some(session_id.clone()),
+        _ => None,
+    })
+    .await;
+    assert_eq!(session_created, "sess_inbound");
+
+    wait_for_event(&test.codex, |event| {
+        matches!(event, EventMsg::TurnComplete(_))
+    })
+    .await;
+
+    let request = response_mock.single_request();
+    let user_texts = request.message_input_texts("user");
+    assert!(user_texts.iter().any(|text| text == "text from realtime"));
+
+    realtime_server.shutdown().await;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 2)]
+async fn inbound_realtime_text_steers_active_turn() -> Result<()> {
+    skip_if_no_network!(Ok(()));
+
+    let (gate_completed_tx, gate_completed_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+    let first_chunks = vec![
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_response_created("resp-1")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_message_item_added("msg-1", "")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_output_text_delta("first ")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_output_text_delta("turn")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_assistant_message("msg-1", "first turn")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: Some(gate_completed_rx),
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_completed("resp-1")),
+        },
+    ];
+    let second_chunks = vec![
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_response_created("resp-2")),
+        },
+        StreamingSseChunk {
+            gate: None,
+            body: sse_event(responses::ev_completed("resp-2")),
+        },
+    ];
+    let (api_server, _completions) =
+        start_streaming_sse_server(vec![first_chunks, second_chunks]).await;
+
+    let realtime_server = start_websocket_server(vec![vec![
+        vec![json!({
+            "type": "session.created",
+            "session": { "id": "sess_steer" }
+        })],
+        vec![json!({
+            "type": "conversation.item.added",
+            "item": {
+                "type": "message",
+                "role": "assistant",
+                "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "steer via realtime"}]
+            }
+        })],
+    ]])
+    .await;
+
+    let mut builder = test_codex().with_model("gpt-5.1").with_config({
+        let realtime_base_url = realtime_server.uri().to_string();
+        move |config| {
+            config.experimental_realtime_ws_base_url = Some(realtime_base_url);
+        }
+    });
+    let test = builder.build_with_streaming_server(&api_server).await?;
+
+    test.codex
+        .submit(Op::RealtimeConversationStart(ConversationStartParams {
+            prompt: "backend prompt".to_string(),
+            session_id: None,
+        }))
+        .await?;
+    let _ = wait_for_event_match(&test.codex, |msg| match msg {
+        EventMsg::RealtimeConversationRealtime(RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent {
+            payload: RealtimeEvent::SessionCreated { session_id },
+        }) if session_id == "sess_steer" => Some(()),
+        _ => None,
+    })
+    .await;
+
+    test.codex
+        .submit(Op::UserInput {
+            items: vec![UserInput::Text {
+                text: "first prompt".to_string(),
+                text_elements: Vec::new(),
+            }],
+            final_output_json_schema: None,
+        })
+        .await?;
+
+    wait_for_event(&test.codex, |event| {
+        matches!(event, EventMsg::AgentMessageContentDelta(_))
+    })
+    .await;
+
+    test.codex
+        .submit(Op::RealtimeConversationAudio(ConversationAudioParams {
+            frame: RealtimeAudioFrame {
+                data: "AQID".to_string(),
+                sample_rate: 24000,
+                num_channels: 1,
+                samples_per_channel: Some(480),
+            },
+        }))
+        .await?;
+
+    let _ = wait_for_event_match(&test.codex, |msg| match msg {
+        EventMsg::RealtimeConversationRealtime(RealtimeConversationRealtimeEvent {
+            payload: RealtimeEvent::ConversationItemAdded(item),
+        }) => item
+            .get("content")
+            .and_then(Value::as_array)
+            .into_iter()
+            .flatten()
+            .any(|content| {
+                content.get("text").and_then(Value::as_str) == Some("steer via realtime")
+            })
+            .then_some(()),
+        _ => None,
+    })
+    .await;
+
+    let _ = gate_completed_tx.send(());
+    wait_for_event(&test.codex, |event| {
+        matches!(event, EventMsg::TurnComplete(_))
+    })
+    .await;
+
+    let requests = api_server.requests().await;
+    assert_eq!(requests.len(), 2);
+
+    let first_body: Value = serde_json::from_slice(&requests[0]).expect("parse first request");
+    let second_body: Value = serde_json::from_slice(&requests[1]).expect("parse second request");
+    let first_texts = message_input_texts(&first_body, "user");
+    let second_texts = message_input_texts(&second_body, "user");
+
+    assert!(first_texts.iter().any(|text| text == "first prompt"));
+    assert!(!first_texts.iter().any(|text| text == "steer via realtime"));
+    assert!(second_texts.iter().any(|text| text == "first prompt"));
+    assert!(second_texts.iter().any(|text| text == "steer via realtime"));
+
+    realtime_server.shutdown().await;
+    api_server.shutdown().await;
+    Ok(())
+}