diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.test.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.test.ts
index a48ac93fc0..0cd2e9f6cb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.test.ts
@@ -284,6 +284,60 @@ const tests: TestCase[] = [
     context: {},
     expect: '# Lines List\n\nLine 1\nLine 2\nLine 3',
   },
+  {
+    desc: 'renders fallback when content is falsy (boolean)',
+    content: {
+      heading: 'Fallback Boolean',
+      content: false,
+      fallback: 'This is the fallback',
+    },
+    context: {},
+    expect: '# Fallback Boolean\n\nThis is the fallback',
+  },
+  {
+    desc: 'renders fallback when content is falsy (empty string via short-circuit)',
+    content: {
+      heading: 'Fallback Empty String',
+      content: String('') && 'something',
+      fallback: 'Fallback for empty string',
+    },
+    context: {},
+    expect: '# Fallback Empty String\n\nFallback for empty string',
+  },
+  {
+    desc: 'renders fallback when content is an array that filters down to empty',
+    content: {
+      heading: 'Fallback Empty Array',
+      content: [false, null, '', undefined],
+      fallback: 'Fallback for empty array',
+    },
+    context: {},
+    expect: '# Fallback Empty Array\n\nFallback for empty array',
+  },
+  {
+    desc: 'renders normal content and ignores fallback when content is present',
+    content: {
+      heading: 'No Fallback',
+      content: 'Primary content',
+      fallback: 'Should not see this',
+    },
+    context: {},
+    expect: '# No Fallback\n\nPrimary content',
+  },
+  {
+    desc: 'does not render section if both content and fallback are falsy',
+    content: [
+      'Visible start',
+      {
+        heading: 'Double Falsy',
+        content: '',
+        fallback: null,
+      },
+      'Visible end',
+    ],
+    context: {},
+    expect: 'Visible start\n\nVisible end',
+  },
 ];
 
 describe('renderPrompt', () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.ts b/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.ts
index da9a7d0523..eaaaa72b5f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/prompts/render-prompt.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ export type PromptSection<C, Sync extends boolean = false> = {
   /** Condition that must evaluate to true for the section to be rendered. */
   condition?: boolean | ((ctx: C) => MaybePromise<boolean, Sync>);
   content: PromptContent<C, Sync>;
+  /** Alternate content to render if the primary content resolves to a falsy value. */
+  fallback?: PromptContent<C, Sync>;
 };
 
 // The core recursive type.
@@ -189,7 +191,8 @@ export async function renderPrompt<C = SystemPromptOptions>({
       return null;
     }
     if (typeof c === 'string' || typeof c === 'number') {
-      return String(c);
+      const val = String(c);
+      return val === '' ? null : val;
     }
     if (Array.isArray(c)) {
       const resolved = await Promise.all(c.map((item) => resolveToBasic(item)));
@@ -212,7 +215,18 @@ export async function renderPrompt<C = SystemPromptOptions>({
             : section.condition;
         if (!shouldRender) return null;
       }
-      const resolvedInner = await resolveToBasic(section.content);
+      let resolvedInner = await resolveToBasic(section.content);
+
+      if (
+        resolvedInner === null ||
+        resolvedInner === '' ||
+        (Array.isArray(resolvedInner) && resolvedInner.length === 0)
+      ) {
+        if (section.fallback !== undefined) {
+          resolvedInner = await resolveToBasic(section.fallback);
+        }
+      }
+
       if (
         resolvedInner === null ||
         resolvedInner === '' ||
@@ -294,7 +308,8 @@ export function renderPromptSync<C = SystemPromptOptions>({
       return null;
     }
     if (typeof c === 'string' || typeof c === 'number') {
-      return String(c);
+      const val = String(c);
+      return val === '' ? null : val;
     }
     if (Array.isArray(c)) {
       const resolved = c.map((item) => resolveToBasicSync(item));
@@ -324,7 +339,18 @@ export function renderPromptSync<C = SystemPromptOptions>({
         }
         if (!shouldRender) return null;
       }
-      const resolvedInner = resolveToBasicSync(section.content);
+      let resolvedInner = resolveToBasicSync(section.content);
+
+      if (
+        resolvedInner === null ||
+        resolvedInner === '' ||
+        (Array.isArray(resolvedInner) && resolvedInner.length === 0)
+      ) {
+        if (section.fallback !== undefined) {
+          resolvedInner = resolveToBasicSync(section.fallback);
+        }
+      }
+
       if (
         resolvedInner === null ||
         resolvedInner === '' ||
@@ -366,6 +392,5 @@ export function renderPromptSync<C = SystemPromptOptions>({
 export function prompt<C = SystemPromptOptions, Sync extends boolean = false>(
   ...content: Array<PromptContent<C, Sync>>
 ): PromptContent<C, Sync> {
-   
-  return (content.length === 1 ? content[0] : content);
+  return content.length === 1 ? content[0] : content;
 }