diff --git a/lib/tasks/gather.js b/lib/tasks/gather.js
index 09a1cf2d..4ff63210 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/gather.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/gather.js
@@ -624,7 +624,9 @@ class TaskGather extends SttTask {
     if (evt.is_final) {
       if (evt.alternatives[0].transcript === '' && !this.callSession.callGone && !this.killed) {
         emptyTranscript = true;
-        if (finished === 'true' && ['microsoft', 'deepgram'].includes(this.vendor)) {
+        if (finished === 'true' &&
+          ['microsoft', 'deepgram'].includes(this.vendor) &&
+          this._bufferedTranscripts.length === 0) {
           this.logger.debug({evt}, 'TaskGather:_onTranscription - got empty transcript from old gather, disregarding');
           return;
         }