diff --git a/app/handler/response_handler.py b/app/handler/response_handler.py
index 1300e71..bbe047d 100644
--- a/app/handler/response_handler.py
+++ b/app/handler/response_handler.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 from app.config.config import settings
 from app.utils.uploader import ImageUploaderFactory
 from app.log.logger import get_openai_logger
+from app.utils.helpers import is_image_upload_configured
 
 logger = get_openai_logger()
 
@@ -251,7 +252,22 @@ def _extract_result(
     return text, reasoning_content, tool_calls, thought
 
 
+def _has_inline_image_part(response: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
+    try:
+        for c in response.get("candidates", []):
+            for p in c.get("content", {}).get("parts", []):
+                if isinstance(p, dict) and ("inlineData" in p):
+                    return True
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+    return False
+
+
 def _extract_image_data(part: dict) -> str:
+    # Return empty string if no uploader is configured
+    if not is_image_upload_configured():
+        return ""
+    
     image_uploader = None
     if settings.UPLOAD_PROVIDER == "smms":
         image_uploader = ImageUploaderFactory.create(
@@ -322,6 +338,10 @@ def _extract_tool_calls(
 def _handle_gemini_stream_response(
     response: Dict[str, Any], model: str, stream: bool
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    # Early return raw Gemini response if no uploader configured and contains inline images
+    if not is_image_upload_configured() and _has_inline_image_part(response):
+        return response
+    
     text, reasoning_content, tool_calls, thought = _extract_result(
         response, model, stream=stream, gemini_format=True
     )
@@ -339,6 +359,10 @@ def _handle_gemini_stream_response(
 def _handle_gemini_normal_response(
     response: Dict[str, Any], model: str, stream: bool
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    # Early return raw Gemini response if no uploader configured and contains inline images
+    if not is_image_upload_configured() and _has_inline_image_part(response):
+        return response
+    
     text, reasoning_content, tool_calls, thought = _extract_result(
         response, model, stream=stream, gemini_format=True
     )
diff --git a/app/service/image/image_create_service.py b/app/service/image/image_create_service.py
index 9a3b867..b90ef99 100644
--- a/app/service/image/image_create_service.py
+++ b/app/service/image/image_create_service.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from app.core.constants import VALID_IMAGE_RATIOS
 from app.domain.openai_models import ImageGenerationRequest
 from app.log.logger import get_image_create_logger
 from app.utils.uploader import ImageUploaderFactory
+from app.utils.helpers import is_image_upload_configured
 
 logger = get_image_create_logger()
 
@@ -97,12 +98,15 @@ class ImageCreateService:
                 image_data = generated_image.image.image_bytes
                 image_uploader = None
 
-                if request.response_format == "b64_json":
+                # Return base64 if explicitly requested or if no uploader is configured
+                if request.response_format == "b64_json" or not is_image_upload_configured():
                     base64_image = base64.b64encode(image_data).decode("utf-8")
                     images_data.append(
                         {"b64_json": base64_image, "revised_prompt": request.prompt}
                     )
+                    continue
                 else:
+                    # Upload to configured provider
                     current_date = time.strftime("%Y/%m/%d")
                     filename = f"{current_date}/{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}.png"
 
diff --git a/app/utils/helpers.py b/app/utils/helpers.py
index c283654..29778ed 100644
--- a/app/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/app/utils/helpers.py
@@ -189,3 +189,23 @@ def get_current_version(default_version: str = "0.0.0") -> str:
     except IOError as e:
         helper_logger.error(f"Error reading VERSION file ('{version_file}'): {e}. Using default version '{default_version}'.")
         return default_version
+
+
+def is_image_upload_configured() -> bool:
+    """Return True only if a valid upload provider is selected and all required settings for that provider are present. Uses lazy import to avoid circular imports."""
+    try:
+        from app.config.config import settings  # local import to avoid circular dependency at module import time
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+    provider = (getattr(settings, "UPLOAD_PROVIDER", "") or "").strip().lower()
+    if provider == "smms":
+        return bool(getattr(settings, "SMMS_SECRET_TOKEN", ""))
+    if provider == "picgo":
+        return bool(getattr(settings, "PICGO_API_KEY", ""))
+    if provider == "cloudflare_imgbed":
+        return all([
+            getattr(settings, "CLOUDFLARE_IMGBED_URL", ""),
+            getattr(settings, "CLOUDFLARE_IMGBED_AUTH_CODE", ""),
+        ])
+    return False