diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index be8b5dba7..93596892d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Added
 
+- Added `SelfClosingTagAggregator` to handle incomplete self-closing tags during
+  streaming (e.g., prevents splitting `<break time="0.1s"/>` when received as
+  `<break time="0.` + `1s"/>`).
+
 - Added video streaming support to `LiveKitTransport`.
 
 - Added `OpenAIRealtimeLLMService` and `AzureRealtimeLLMService` which provide
diff --git a/examples/foundational/45-pause-during-response.py b/examples/foundational/45-pause-during-response.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e61b5471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/foundational/45-pause-during-response.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024–2025, Daily
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+
+import os
+
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from loguru import logger
+
+from pipecat.audio.vad.silero import SileroVADAnalyzer
+from pipecat.frames.frames import LLMRunFrame
+from pipecat.pipeline.pipeline import Pipeline
+from pipecat.pipeline.runner import PipelineRunner
+from pipecat.pipeline.task import PipelineParams, PipelineTask
+from pipecat.processors.aggregators.openai_llm_context import OpenAILLMContext
+from pipecat.runner.types import RunnerArguments
+from pipecat.runner.utils import create_transport
+from pipecat.services.cartesia.tts import CartesiaTTSService
+from pipecat.services.deepgram.stt import DeepgramSTTService
+from pipecat.services.openai.llm import OpenAILLMService
+from pipecat.transports.base_transport import BaseTransport, TransportParams
+from pipecat.transports.daily.transport import DailyParams
+from pipecat.transports.websocket.fastapi import FastAPIWebsocketParams
+from pipecat.utils.text.self_closing_tag_aggregator import SelfClosingTagAggregator
+
+load_dotenv(override=True)
+
+# We store functions so objects (e.g. SileroVADAnalyzer) don't get
+# instantiated. The function will be called when the desired transport gets
+# selected.
+transport_params = {
+    "daily": lambda: DailyParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+        vad_analyzer=SileroVADAnalyzer(),
+    ),
+    "twilio": lambda: FastAPIWebsocketParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+        vad_analyzer=SileroVADAnalyzer(),
+    ),
+    "webrtc": lambda: TransportParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+        vad_analyzer=SileroVADAnalyzer(),
+    ),
+}
+
+
+async def run_bot(transport: BaseTransport, runner_args: RunnerArguments):
+    logger.info(f"Starting bot")
+
+    stt = DeepgramSTTService(api_key=os.getenv("DEEPGRAM_API_KEY"))
+
+    tts = CartesiaTTSService(
+        api_key=os.getenv("CARTESIA_API_KEY"),
+        voice_id="71a7ad14-091c-4e8e-a314-022ece01c121",  # British Reading Lady
+        text_aggregator=SelfClosingTagAggregator(["break"]),  # Handle Cartesia break tags
+    )
+
+    llm = OpenAILLMService(api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
+
+    messages = [
+        {
+            "role": "system",
+            "content": """You are a helpful assistant in a voice call. Speak naturally and clearly. When sharing phone numbers, add natural pauses between number groups using <break time="0.2s"/> - for example: "You can reach us at 8-0-0<break time="0.2s"/>5-5-5<break time="0.2s"/>1-2-3-4". Use shorter pauses <break time="0.1s"/> when listing items or giving step-by-step instructions to help listeners follow along.""",
+        },
+    ]
+
+    context = OpenAILLMContext(messages)
+    context_aggregator = llm.create_context_aggregator(context)
+
+    pipeline = Pipeline(
+        [
+            transport.input(),  # Transport user input
+            stt,
+            context_aggregator.user(),  # User responses
+            llm,  # LLM
+            tts,  # TTS
+            transport.output(),  # Transport bot output
+            context_aggregator.assistant(),  # Assistant spoken responses
+        ]
+    )
+
+    task = PipelineTask(
+        pipeline,
+        params=PipelineParams(
+            enable_metrics=True,
+            enable_usage_metrics=True,
+        ),
+        idle_timeout_secs=runner_args.pipeline_idle_timeout_secs,
+    )
+
+    @transport.event_handler("on_client_connected")
+    async def on_client_connected(transport, client):
+        logger.info(f"Client connected")
+        # Kick off the conversation.
+        messages.append({"role": "system", "content": "Please introduce yourself to the user."})
+        await task.queue_frames([LLMRunFrame()])
+
+    @transport.event_handler("on_client_disconnected")
+    async def on_client_disconnected(transport, client):
+        logger.info(f"Client disconnected")
+        await task.cancel()
+
+    runner = PipelineRunner(handle_sigint=runner_args.handle_sigint)
+
+    await runner.run(task)
+
+
+async def bot(runner_args: RunnerArguments):
+    """Main bot entry point compatible with Pipecat Cloud."""
+    transport = await create_transport(runner_args, transport_params)
+    await run_bot(transport, runner_args)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    from pipecat.runner.run import main
+
+    main()
diff --git a/src/pipecat/utils/text/self_closing_tag_aggregator.py b/src/pipecat/utils/text/self_closing_tag_aggregator.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96eb67fb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pipecat/utils/text/self_closing_tag_aggregator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024–2025, Daily
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+
+"""Self-closing tag aggregator for handling XML-style self-closing tags.
+
+This module provides a generic text aggregator that can handle any self-closing
+XML-style tags (e.g., <break time="0.1s"/>, <pause duration="500ms"/>, etc.)
+that should prevent sentence boundary detection when incomplete during streaming.
+"""
+
+import re
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+from pipecat.utils.string import match_endofsentence
+from pipecat.utils.text.base_text_aggregator import BaseTextAggregator
+
+
+class SelfClosingTagAggregator(BaseTextAggregator):
+    r"""Aggregator that handles self-closing XML-style tags during streaming.
+
+    This aggregator is designed to handle any self-closing tags that might appear
+    in streaming text and could be split inappropriately when incomplete.
+    It prevents sentence boundary detection only when tags are incomplete.
+
+    The aggregator works by:
+
+    1. Detecting incomplete self-closing tags during streaming (e.g., '<break time="0.')
+    2. Buffering text until all tags are complete (e.g., '<break time="0.1s"/>')
+    3. Applying normal sentence boundary detection once all tags are complete
+    4. Supporting configurable tag patterns for different use cases
+
+    Example usage::
+
+        # For Cartesia break tags
+        aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(['break'])
+
+        # For multiple tag types
+        aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(['break', 'pause', 'emphasis'])
+
+        # For custom patterns
+        aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(
+            patterns=[r'<break\\s+time="[^"]*"\\s*/?>', r'<pause\\s+duration="[^"]*"\\s*/>']
+        )
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        tags: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+        patterns: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+    ):
+        """Initialize the self-closing tag aggregator.
+
+        Args:
+            tags: List of tag names to handle (e.g., ['break', 'pause']).
+                 Will generate patterns like <break .../>
+            patterns: List of custom regex patterns for complete tags.
+                     Takes precedence over tags if provided.
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If neither tags nor patterns are provided.
+        """
+        self._text = ""
+
+        if patterns:
+            # Use custom patterns
+            self._complete_patterns = [re.compile(pattern) for pattern in patterns]
+            # Generate incomplete patterns from complete ones
+            self._incomplete_patterns = []
+            for pattern in patterns:
+                # Convert complete pattern to incomplete by making the closing part optional
+                # This is a simple heuristic - for complex patterns, users should provide both
+                incomplete = pattern.replace(r"\s*/?>", r"[^>]*$").replace(r"/>", r"[^>]*$")
+                self._incomplete_patterns.append(re.compile(incomplete))
+        elif tags:
+            # Generate patterns from tag names
+            self._complete_patterns = []
+            self._incomplete_patterns = []
+
+            for tag_name in tags:
+                # Pattern for complete self-closing tags: <tagname .../>
+                complete_pattern = rf"<{re.escape(tag_name)}\s+[^>]*\s*/?>"
+                self._complete_patterns.append(re.compile(complete_pattern))
+
+                # Pattern for incomplete tags: <tagname ... (without closing)
+                incomplete_pattern = rf"<{re.escape(tag_name)}\s+[^>]*$"
+                self._incomplete_patterns.append(re.compile(incomplete_pattern))
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Must provide either 'tags' or 'patterns' parameter")
+
+    @property
+    def text(self) -> str:
+        """Get the currently buffered text.
+
+        Returns:
+            The current text buffer content that hasn't been processed yet.
+        """
+        return self._text
+
+    def _has_incomplete_tags(self, text: str) -> bool:
+        """Check if the text ends with incomplete self-closing tags.
+
+        Args:
+            text: The text to check.
+
+        Returns:
+            True if the text ends with any incomplete tag patterns.
+        """
+        for pattern in self._incomplete_patterns:
+            if pattern.search(text):
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    async def aggregate(self, text: str) -> Optional[str]:
+        """Aggregate text while being aware of self-closing tags.
+
+        This method adds the new text to the buffer and checks for sentence
+        boundaries. If tags are incomplete, it continues buffering until
+        they are complete. Once all tags are complete, normal sentence
+        detection applies.
+
+        Args:
+            text: New text to add to the buffer.
+
+        Returns:
+            Processed text up to a sentence boundary, or None if incomplete
+            tags are present and more text is needed.
+        """
+        # Add new text to buffer
+        self._text += text
+
+        # Check if we have incomplete tags - if so, keep buffering
+        if self._has_incomplete_tags(self._text):
+            return None
+
+        # No incomplete tags, use normal sentence detection
+        eos_marker = match_endofsentence(self._text)
+        if eos_marker:
+            result = self._text[:eos_marker]
+            self._text = self._text[eos_marker:]
+            return result
+
+        # No sentence boundary found yet
+        return None
+
+    async def handle_interruption(self):
+        """Handle interruptions by clearing the buffer.
+
+        Called when an interruption occurs in the processing pipeline,
+        to reset the state and discard any partially aggregated text.
+        """
+        self._text = ""
+
+    async def reset(self):
+        """Clear the internally aggregated text.
+
+        Resets the aggregator to its initial state, discarding any
+        buffered text.
+        """
+        self._text = ""
diff --git a/tests/test_self_closing_tag_aggregator.py b/tests/test_self_closing_tag_aggregator.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..68a699460
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_self_closing_tag_aggregator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024-2025 Daily
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+
+import unittest
+
+from pipecat.utils.text.self_closing_tag_aggregator import SelfClosingTagAggregator
+
+
+class TestSelfClosingTagAggregator(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(["break"])
+
+    async def test_no_tags(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # No tags involved, aggregate at end of sentence.
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate("Hello Pipecat!")
+        self.assertEqual(result, "Hello Pipecat!")
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_complete_tags(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Complete tags, should aggregate normally.
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Call us at <break time="0.1s"/>now.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Call us at <break time="0.1s"/>now.')
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_incomplete_tag_single_chunk(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Incomplete tag in single chunk, should buffer.
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Hello <break time="0.')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, 'Hello <break time="0.')
+
+    async def test_multiple_tag_types(self):
+        # Test with multiple tag types
+        multi_aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(["break", "pause", "voice"])
+        await multi_aggregator.reset()
+
+        result = await multi_aggregator.aggregate('Hello <voice name="alice"/>world.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Hello <voice name="alice"/>world.')
+        self.assertEqual(multi_aggregator.text, "")
+
+        # Test incomplete with multiple types
+        await multi_aggregator.reset()
+        result = await multi_aggregator.aggregate('Say <pause duration="500')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(multi_aggregator.text, 'Say <pause duration="500')
+
+        result = await multi_aggregator.aggregate('ms"/>this slowly.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Say <pause duration="500ms"/>this slowly.')
+        self.assertEqual(multi_aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_custom_patterns(self):
+        # Test with custom regex patterns
+        pattern_aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(
+            patterns=[r'<break\s+time="[^"]*"\s*/?>', r'<voice\s+name="[^"]*"\s*/>']
+        )
+        await pattern_aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Complete custom pattern
+        result = await pattern_aggregator.aggregate('Test <break time="1.5s"/> custom.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Test <break time="1.5s"/> custom.')
+        self.assertEqual(pattern_aggregator.text, "")
+
+        # Incomplete custom pattern
+        await pattern_aggregator.reset()
+        result = await pattern_aggregator.aggregate('Hello <voice name="bob')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(pattern_aggregator.text, 'Hello <voice name="bob')
+
+        result = await pattern_aggregator.aggregate('"/>there.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Hello <voice name="bob"/>there.')
+        self.assertEqual(pattern_aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_sentence_boundaries_with_complete_tags(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Multiple sentences with complete tags should split appropriately
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate(
+            'First <break time="1s"/> sentence. Second sentence.'
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'First <break time="1s"/> sentence.')
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, " Second sentence.")
+
+        # Adding empty string should trigger processing of remaining complete sentence
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate("")
+        self.assertEqual(result, " Second sentence.")
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_no_sentence_ending(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Text without sentence ending should buffer
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Hello <break time="1s"/> world')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, 'Hello <break time="1s"/> world')
+
+    async def test_initialization_errors(self):
+        # Test that initialization requires either tags or patterns
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as context:
+            SelfClosingTagAggregator()
+
+        self.assertIn("Must provide either 'tags' or 'patterns' parameter", str(context.exception))
+
+        # Test that both tags and patterns work
+        tag_aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(["test"])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(tag_aggregator)
+
+        pattern_aggregator = SelfClosingTagAggregator(patterns=[r"<test\s*/>"])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(pattern_aggregator)
+
+    async def test_handle_interruption(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Add some text to buffer
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Buffered <break time="0.')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, 'Buffered <break time="0.')
+
+        # Handle interruption should clear buffer
+        await self.aggregator.handle_interruption()
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_reset(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Add some text to buffer
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Some <break time="0.')
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, 'Some <break time="0.')
+
+        # Reset should clear buffer
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_property_access(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Test that text property works
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+        await self.aggregator.aggregate('Test <break time="0.')
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, 'Test <break time="0.')
+
+    async def test_malformed_tags_ignored(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Malformed tags (not matching pattern) should be ignored
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate('Test <break_time="0.1s"/> normal.')
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'Test <break_time="0.1s"/> normal.')
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+    async def test_edge_case_empty_strings(self):
+        await self.aggregator.reset()
+
+        # Empty string should not cause issues
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate("")
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")
+
+        # Add real content after empty string
+        result = await self.aggregator.aggregate("Hello world.")
+        self.assertEqual(result, "Hello world.")
+        self.assertEqual(self.aggregator.text, "")