diff --git a/examples/foundational/20e-persistent-context-aws-nova-sonic.py b/examples/foundational/20e-persistent-context-aws-nova-sonic.py
index 731c69c3a..8ac1508f8 100644
--- a/examples/foundational/20e-persistent-context-aws-nova-sonic.py
+++ b/examples/foundational/20e-persistent-context-aws-nova-sonic.py
@@ -175,6 +175,10 @@ async def run_bot(webrtc_connection: SmallWebRTCConnection):
         ),
     )
 
+    # Specify initial system instruction.
+    # HACK: note that, for now, we need to inject a special bit of text into this instruction to
+    # allow the first assistant response to be programmatically triggered (which happens in the
+    # on_client_connected handler, below)
     system_instruction = (
         "You are a friendly assistant. The user and you will engage in a spoken dialog exchanging "
         "the transcripts of a natural real-time conversation. Keep your responses short, generally "
diff --git a/examples/foundational/39-aws-nova-sonic.py b/examples/foundational/39-aws-nova-sonic.py
index a89796ea6..fe0d07dca 100644
--- a/examples/foundational/39-aws-nova-sonic.py
+++ b/examples/foundational/39-aws-nova-sonic.py
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ async def run_bot(webrtc_connection: SmallWebRTCConnection):
     # HACK: note that, for now, we need to inject a special bit of text into this instruction to
     # allow the first assistant response to be programmatically triggered (which happens in the
     # on_client_connected handler, below)
-    # TODO: looks like Nova Sonic can't handle new lines?
     system_instruction = (
         "You are a friendly assistant. The user and you will engage in a spoken dialog exchanging "
         "the transcripts of a natural real-time conversation. Keep your responses short, generally "
diff --git a/src/pipecat/services/aws_nova_sonic/aws.py b/src/pipecat/services/aws_nova_sonic/aws.py
index 50b83d3e0..e5df20e66 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/services/aws_nova_sonic/aws.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/services/aws_nova_sonic/aws.py
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ class AWSNovaSonicLLMService(LLMService):
         await self._send_client_event(audio_content_start)
 
     async def _send_text_event(self, text: str, role: Role):
-        if not self._stream:
+        if not self._stream or not text:
             return
 
         content_name = str(uuid.uuid4())
@@ -521,13 +521,14 @@ class AWSNovaSonicLLMService(LLMService):
         '''
         await self._send_client_event(text_content_start)
 
+        escaped_text = json.dumps(text) # includes quotes
         text_input = f'''
         {{
             "event": {{
                 "textInput": {{
                     "promptName": "{self._prompt_name}",
                     "contentName": "{content_name}",
-                    "content": "{text}"
+                    "content": {escaped_text}
                 }}
             }}
         }}