[GH-ISSUE #24851] issue: OWUI parrots the user in roleplay scenarios #107404

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opened 2026-05-18 06:12:47 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 3 comments
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Originally created by @frenzybiscuit on GitHub (May 17, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24851

Check Existing Issues

  • I have searched for any existing and/or related issues.
  • I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions.
  • I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!).
  • I am using the latest version of Open WebUI.

Installation Method

Docker

Open WebUI Version

0.9.5

Ollama Version (if applicable)

N/A

Operating System

Linux

Browser (if applicable)

Firefox

Confirmation

  • I have read and followed all instructions in README.md.
  • I am using the latest version of both Open WebUI and Ollama.
  • I have included the browser console logs.
  • I have included the Docker container logs.
  • I have provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.
  • I have clearly listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc).
  • I have documented step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation. My steps:
  • Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used,
  • Specify exact install/launch/configure commands,
  • List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed),
  • Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed,
  • Include any files or environmental changes,
  • Identify the expected and actual result at each stage,
  • Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue.

Expected Behavior

The LLM should follow the system prompt and not parrot/speak for user.

Actual Behavior

It parrots the user.

Steps to Reproduce

Use the following narrator prompt:

https://gist.github.com/frenzybiscuit/23050d9cffbc67962bad40239089994f

Use the following parameters:

Image

Logs & Screenshots

OWUI:

Image

Sillytavern with the exact same prompt (and chat completion!):

Image

Additional Information

N/A

Originally created by @frenzybiscuit on GitHub (May 17, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24851 ### Check Existing Issues - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related issues. - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions. - [x] I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!). - [x] I am using the latest version of Open WebUI. ### Installation Method Docker ### Open WebUI Version 0.9.5 ### Ollama Version (if applicable) N/A ### Operating System Linux ### Browser (if applicable) Firefox ### Confirmation - [x] I have read and followed all instructions in `README.md`. - [x] I am using the latest version of **both** Open WebUI and Ollama. - [x] I have included the browser console logs. - [x] I have included the Docker container logs. - [x] I have **provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.** - [x] I have clearly **listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup** (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc). - [x] I have documented **step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation**. My steps: - Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used, - Specify exact install/launch/configure commands, - List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed), - Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed, - Include any files or environmental changes, - Identify the expected and actual result at each stage, - Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue. ### Expected Behavior The LLM should follow the system prompt and not parrot/speak for user. ### Actual Behavior It parrots the user. ### Steps to Reproduce Use the following narrator prompt: https://gist.github.com/frenzybiscuit/23050d9cffbc67962bad40239089994f Use the following parameters: <img width="1748" height="1324" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/343fe876-a2b3-493a-8bbe-dd77acbc11f8" /> ### Logs & Screenshots OWUI: <img width="2208" height="656" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2347682a-ec3f-4697-b922-68ad8fb0c095" /> Sillytavern with the exact same prompt (and chat completion!): <img width="1872" height="1598" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8c2be0d6-0e90-48ae-9643-6a8f3fd0e792" /> ### Additional Information N/A
GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-05-18 06:12:47 -05:00
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Owner

@owui-terminator[bot] commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026):

🔍 Related Issues Found

I found some existing issues that might be related. Please check if any of these are duplicates or contain helpful solutions:

  1. 🟣 #17198 issue: Duplicated system prompt in the request
    This is directly about system prompt handling in the request path. The bug there shows OWUI duplicating/misplacing system instructions, which is the same family of prompt-routing issues causing roleplay behavior to break here.
    by DanielusG · bug

  2. 🟣 #19049 feat: general system prompt shouldn't overwrite system prompt of custom model
    This issue reports that a general system prompt overrides a custom model's more specific system prompt. If the roleplay narrator prompt is being ignored or flattened, this is a likely underlying cause in how system prompts are selected and applied.
    by burntcouscous

  3. 🟣 #22965 issue: Code interpreter prompt (Pyodide) injected into user turn instead of system prompt
    This closed bug is about prompt text being appended to the user turn instead of the system prompt, which is very similar to the current complaint that the model treats narrator/system instructions as user content and parrots them.
    by AirRunner · bug


💡 If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and add any additional details to the existing issue instead.

This comment was generated automatically. React with 👍 if helpful, 👎 if not.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4472503016 --> @owui-terminator[bot] commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026): <!-- terminator-bot:related-issues-reply --> 🔍 **Related Issues Found** I found some existing issues that might be related. Please check if any of these are duplicates or contain helpful solutions: 1. 🟣 [#17198](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/17198) **issue: Duplicated system prompt in the request** *This is directly about system prompt handling in the request path. The bug there shows OWUI duplicating/misplacing system instructions, which is the same family of prompt-routing issues causing roleplay behavior to break here.* *by DanielusG · `bug`* 2. 🟣 [#19049](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/19049) **feat: general system prompt shouldn't overwrite system prompt of custom model** *This issue reports that a general system prompt overrides a custom model's more specific system prompt. If the roleplay narrator prompt is being ignored or flattened, this is a likely underlying cause in how system prompts are selected and applied.* *by burntcouscous* 3. 🟣 [#22965](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/22965) **issue: Code interpreter prompt (Pyodide) injected into user turn instead of system prompt** *This closed bug is about prompt text being appended to the user turn instead of the system prompt, which is very similar to the current complaint that the model treats narrator/system instructions as user content and parrots them.* *by AirRunner · `bug`* --- 💡 If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and add any additional details to the existing issue instead. *This comment was generated automatically.* React with 👍 if helpful, 👎 if not.
Author
Owner

@Classic298 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026):

there's ... what?

Open WebUI doesn't do anything. It just sends whatever you give it to the AI. Maybe sillytavern has some additional prompts? did you check? did you intercept the raw requests being sent by Open WebUI and compared them to the raw request of whatever ST sends?

<!-- gh-comment-id:4472523390 --> @Classic298 commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026): there's ... what? Open WebUI doesn't do anything. It just sends whatever you give it to the AI. Maybe sillytavern has some additional prompts? did you check? did you intercept the raw requests being sent by Open WebUI and compared them to the raw request of whatever ST sends?
Author
Owner

@frenzybiscuit commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026):

Yes, I do see a difference.

In SillyTaverns replies, it doesn't send the thinking content back.

In OpenWebUI, it does.

Infact, it's odd. Because I have strip thinking filters enabled..

SillyTavern:

Image

OWUI:

Image
<!-- gh-comment-id:4472536894 --> @frenzybiscuit commented on GitHub (May 17, 2026): Yes, I do see a difference. In SillyTaverns replies, it doesn't send the thinking content back. In OpenWebUI, it does. Infact, it's odd. Because I have strip thinking filters enabled.. SillyTavern: <img width="1680" height="590" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/48e66a87-4f53-47c0-9645-c7ac5a9da291" /> OWUI: <img width="1680" height="590" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/57cfbaf0-c6e0-4801-a326-ebc28bd87339" />
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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#107404