diff --git a/packages/core/src/core/geminiChat.ts b/packages/core/src/core/geminiChat.ts
index 977f04527a..dff16d4df6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/core/geminiChat.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/core/geminiChat.ts
@@ -84,13 +84,16 @@ export type StreamEvent =
 interface MidStreamRetryOptions {
   /** Total number of attempts to make (1 initial + N retries). */
   maxAttempts: number;
-  /** The base delay in milliseconds for linear backoff. */
+  /** The base delay in milliseconds for backoff. */
   initialDelayMs: number;
+  /** Whether to use exponential backoff instead of linear. */
+  useExponentialBackoff: boolean;
 }
 
 const MID_STREAM_RETRY_OPTIONS: MidStreamRetryOptions = {
   maxAttempts: 4, // 1 initial call + 3 retries mid-stream
-  initialDelayMs: 500,
+  initialDelayMs: 1000,
+  useExponentialBackoff: true,
 };
 
 export const SYNTHETIC_THOUGHT_SIGNATURE = 'skip_thought_signature_validator';
@@ -433,7 +436,10 @@ export class GeminiChat {
                 attempt < maxAttempts - 1 &&
                 attempt < maxMidStreamAttempts - 1
               ) {
-                const delayMs = MID_STREAM_RETRY_OPTIONS.initialDelayMs;
+                const delayMs = MID_STREAM_RETRY_OPTIONS.useExponentialBackoff
+                  ? MID_STREAM_RETRY_OPTIONS.initialDelayMs *
+                    Math.pow(2, attempt)
+                  : MID_STREAM_RETRY_OPTIONS.initialDelayMs * (attempt + 1);
 
                 if (isContentError) {
                   logContentRetry(
@@ -447,7 +453,7 @@ export class GeminiChat {
                       attempt + 1,
                       maxAttempts,
                       errorType,
-                      delayMs * (attempt + 1),
+                      delayMs,
                       model,
                     ),
                   );
@@ -455,13 +461,11 @@ export class GeminiChat {
                 coreEvents.emitRetryAttempt({
                   attempt: attempt + 1,
                   maxAttempts: Math.min(maxAttempts, maxMidStreamAttempts),
-                  delayMs: delayMs * (attempt + 1),
+                  delayMs,
                   error: errorType,
                   model,
                 });
-                await new Promise((res) =>
-                  setTimeout(res, delayMs * (attempt + 1)),
-                );
+                await new Promise((res) => setTimeout(res, delayMs));
                 continue;
               }
             }