diff --git a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/llm.py b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/llm.py
index f42e2c483c..336b3e7f98 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/llm.py
+++ b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/llm.py
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@
     LiteLLMStreamingChoices = None
     get_supported_openai_params = None
     ChatCompletionDeltaToolCall = None
-    ChatCompletionDeltaCustomToolCall = None
     Function = None
     ModelResponse = None
     supports_response_schema = None
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ def _ensure_litellm() -> bool:
     global _litellm_loaded, LITELLM_AVAILABLE
     global litellm, Choices, LiteLLMDelta, Message, ModelResponseBase
     global ModelResponseStream, LiteLLMStreamingChoices, get_supported_openai_params
-    global ChatCompletionDeltaCustomToolCall, ChatCompletionDeltaToolCall, Function
+    global ChatCompletionDeltaToolCall, Function
     global ModelResponse, supports_response_schema
 
     if _litellm_loaded:
diff --git a/lib/crewai/tests/test_llm.py b/lib/crewai/tests/test_llm.py
index 0e7c1b501a..9f32de310d 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/tests/test_llm.py
+++ b/lib/crewai/tests/test_llm.py
@@ -1141,6 +1141,25 @@ def test_litellm_path_preserves_provider_from_model_prefix(model, expected_provi
     assert llm.model == model
 
 
+@requires_litellm_python_311
+def test_litellm_fallback_loads_without_custom_tool_call_delta_type(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """LiteLLM releases before 1.97.0 lack ChatCompletionDeltaCustomToolCall.
+
+    The fallback only needs that type for type checking, so it must still load.
+    """
+    import litellm.types.utils
+
+    monkeypatch.delattr(litellm.types.utils, "ChatCompletionDeltaCustomToolCall")
+    monkeypatch.setattr("crewai.llm._litellm_loaded", False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("crewai.llm.LITELLM_AVAILABLE", False)
+
+    llm = LLM(model="openai/custom-finetune-model", is_litellm=False)
+
+    assert llm.is_litellm is True
+
+
 def test_litellm_keeps_provider_but_formats_multimodal_as_openai_schema():
     llm = LLM(model="anthropic/claude-3-5-haiku-20241022", is_litellm=True)
     assert llm.provider == "anthropic"