diff --git a/assistant/src/calls/relay-server.ts b/assistant/src/calls/relay-server.ts
index c5c86fb1d39..555ebc7a042 100644
--- a/assistant/src/calls/relay-server.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/calls/relay-server.ts
@@ -713,7 +713,18 @@ export class RelayConnection {
     if (this.controller) {
       await this.controller.handleCallerUtterance(msg.voicePrompt, speaker);
     } else {
-      // Fallback if controller not yet initialized
+      // Fallback if controller not yet initialized — persist the caller's
+      // transcript so it is available in conversation history once setup
+      // completes. The session pipeline normally handles persistence, but
+      // this early-utterance path bypasses it entirely.
+      if (session) {
+        conversationStore.addMessage(
+          session.conversationId,
+          'user',
+          JSON.stringify([{ type: 'text', text: msg.voicePrompt }]),
+          { userMessageChannel: 'voice', assistantMessageChannel: 'voice' },
+        );
+      }
       this.sendTextToken('I\'m still setting up. Please hold.', true);
     }
   }
diff --git a/assistant/src/calls/voice-session-bridge.ts b/assistant/src/calls/voice-session-bridge.ts
index 31c550c21aa..0074fbd7b5d 100644
--- a/assistant/src/calls/voice-session-bridge.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/calls/voice-session-bridge.ts
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ function buildVoiceCallControlPrompt(opts: {
   if (opts.isInbound) {
     if (opts.isCallerGuardian) {
       lines.push(
-        '10. If the latest user turn is [CALL_OPENING], this is your user calling you. Answer casually and briefly, like picking up a call from someone you know well. For example: "Hey!" or "What\'s up?" Do NOT introduce yourself, do NOT say you are calling on behalf of anyone, and do NOT ask how you can help in a formal way. Keep it short and natural.',
+        '10. If the latest user turn is "(call connected — deliver opening greeting)", this is your user calling you. Answer casually and briefly, like picking up a call from someone you know well. For example: "Hey!" or "What\'s up?" Do NOT introduce yourself, do NOT say you are calling on behalf of anyone, and do NOT ask how you can help in a formal way. Keep it short and natural.',
       );
     } else {
       lines.push(
-        '10. If the latest user turn is [CALL_OPENING], greet the caller warmly and ask how you can help. Vary the wording; do not use a fixed template.',
+        '10. If the latest user turn is "(call connected — deliver opening greeting)", greet the caller warmly and ask how you can help. Vary the wording; do not use a fixed template.',
       );
     }
     lines.push(
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ function buildVoiceCallControlPrompt(opts: {
     );
   } else {
     lines.push(
-      '10. If the latest user turn is [CALL_OPENING], generate a natural, context-specific opener: briefly introduce yourself once as an assistant, state why you are calling using the Task context, and ask a short permission/check-in question. Vary the wording; do not use a fixed template.',
+      '10. If the latest user turn is "(call connected — deliver opening greeting)", generate a natural, context-specific opener: briefly introduce yourself once as an assistant, state why you are calling using the Task context, and ask a short permission/check-in question. Vary the wording; do not use a fixed template.',
       '11. If the latest user turn includes [CALL_OPENING_ACK], treat it as the callee acknowledging your opener and continue the conversation naturally without re-introducing yourself or repeating the initial check-in question.',
     );
   }
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ export async function startVoiceTurn(opts: VoiceTurnOptions): Promise<VoiceTurnH
     : opts.content;
 
   // Build the call-control protocol prompt so the model knows how to emit
-  // control markers (ASK_GUARDIAN, END_CALL, CALL_OPENING, etc.).
+  // control markers (ASK_GUARDIAN, END_CALL, etc.) and recognize opener turns.
   const isCallerGuardian = opts.guardianContext?.actorRole === 'guardian';
 
   const voiceCallControlPrompt = buildVoiceCallControlPrompt({