diff --git a/src/mcp_agent/workflows/llm/augmented_llm_openai.py b/src/mcp_agent/workflows/llm/augmented_llm_openai.py
index 6e2562eac..690ab7956 100644
--- a/src/mcp_agent/workflows/llm/augmented_llm_openai.py
+++ b/src/mcp_agent/workflows/llm/augmented_llm_openai.py
@@ -68,7 +68,14 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             if hasattr(self.context.config.openai, "reasoning_effort"):
                 self._reasoning_effort = self.context.config.openai.reasoning_effort
 
-        self._reasoning = lambda model : model.startswith(("o1","o3","o4"))
+        self._reasoning = lambda model: model.startswith(("o1", "o3", "o4"))
+
+        self._strict_tool_validation = True  # default strict validation
+        if self.context and self.context.config and self.context.config.openai:
+            if hasattr(self.context.config.openai, "strict_tool_validation"):
+                self._strict_tool_validation = (
+                    self.context.config.openai.strict_tool_validation
+                )
 
         if self._reasoning(chosen_model):
             self.logger.info(
@@ -142,7 +149,7 @@ async def generate(self, message, request_params: RequestParams | None = None):
                     "name": tool.name,
                     "description": tool.description,
                     "parameters": tool.inputSchema,
-                    # TODO: saqadri - determine if we should specify "strict" to True by default
+                    "strict": self._strict_tool_validation,
                 },
             )
             for tool in response.tools
@@ -163,10 +170,8 @@ async def generate(self, message, request_params: RequestParams | None = None):
             if self._reasoning(model):
                 arguments = {
                     **arguments,
-                    
                     # DEPRECATED: https://platform.openai.com/docs/api-reference/chat/create#chat-create-max_tokens
                     # "max_tokens": params.maxTokens,
-                    
                     "max_completion_tokens": params.maxTokens,
                     "reasoning_effort": self._reasoning_effort,
                 }