diff --git a/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket.rs b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/methods.rs
similarity index 71%
rename from codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket.rs
rename to codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/methods.rs
index f56b204ec7..0c4744a2a1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/methods.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::ConversationItem;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::ConversationItemContent;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::RealtimeAudioFrame;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::RealtimeConnectionState;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::RealtimeEvent;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::RealtimeOutboundMessage;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::RealtimeSessionConfig;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::SessionCreateSession;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::SessionUpdateSession;
+use crate::endpoint::realtime_websocket::protocol::parse_realtime_event;
 use crate::error::ApiError;
 use crate::provider::Provider;
 use codex_utils_rustls_provider::ensure_rustls_crypto_provider;
 use futures::SinkExt;
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use http::HeaderMap;
-use serde::Deserialize;
-use serde::Serialize;
-use serde_json::Value;
 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
+use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 use tokio::net::TcpStream;
 use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
@@ -17,7 +26,6 @@ use tokio_tungstenite::WebSocketStream;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Error as WsError;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::client::IntoClientRequest;
-use tracing::debug;
 use tracing::info;
 use tracing::trace;
 use tungstenite::protocol::WebSocketConfig;
@@ -25,7 +33,6 @@ use url::Url;
 
 struct WsStream {
     tx_command: mpsc::Sender<WsCommand>,
-    rx_message: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<Result<Message, WsError>>,
     pump_task: tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>,
 }
 
@@ -40,7 +47,9 @@ enum WsCommand {
 }
 
 impl WsStream {
-    fn new(inner: WebSocketStream<MaybeTlsStream<TcpStream>>) -> Self {
+    fn new(
+        inner: WebSocketStream<MaybeTlsStream<TcpStream>>,
+    ) -> (Self, mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<Result<Message, WsError>>) {
         let (tx_command, mut rx_command) = mpsc::channel::<WsCommand>(32);
         let (tx_message, rx_message) = mpsc::unbounded_channel::<Result<Message, WsError>>();
 
@@ -102,11 +111,13 @@ impl WsStream {
             }
         });
 
-        Self {
-            tx_command,
+        (
+            Self {
+                tx_command,
+                pump_task,
+            },
             rx_message,
-            pump_task,
-        }
+        )
     }
 
     async fn request(
@@ -129,10 +140,6 @@ impl WsStream {
         self.request(|tx_result| WsCommand::Close { tx_result })
             .await
     }
-
-    async fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Result<Message, WsError>> {
-        self.rx_message.recv().await
-    }
 }
 
 impl Drop for WsStream {
@@ -141,152 +148,88 @@ impl Drop for WsStream {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct RealtimeSessionConfig {
-    pub api_url: String,
-    pub prompt: String,
-    pub session_id: Option<String>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-pub struct RealtimeAudioFrame {
-    pub data: String,
-    pub sample_rate: u32,
-    pub num_channels: u16,
-    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-    pub samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub enum RealtimeConnectionState {
-    Connected,
-    Disconnected,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub enum RealtimeEvent {
-    State(RealtimeConnectionState),
-    SessionCreated { session_id: String },
-    SessionUpdated { backend_prompt: Option<String> },
-    AudioOut(RealtimeAudioFrame),
-    ConversationItemAdded(Value),
-    Error(String),
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-#[serde(tag = "type")]
-enum RealtimeOutboundMessage {
-    #[serde(rename = "response.input_audio.delta")]
-    InputAudioDelta {
-        delta: String,
-        sample_rate: u32,
-        num_channels: u16,
-        #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-        samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "session.create")]
-    SessionCreate {
-        session: SessionCreateSession,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "session.update")]
-    SessionUpdate {
-        #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-        session: Option<SessionUpdateSession>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "conversation.item.create")]
-    ConversationItemCreate { item: ConversationItem },
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-struct SessionUpdateSession {
-    backend_prompt: String,
-    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-    conversation_id: Option<String>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-struct SessionCreateSession {
-    backend_prompt: String,
-    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
-    conversation_id: Option<String>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-struct ConversationItem {
-    #[serde(rename = "type")]
-    kind: String,
-    role: String,
-    content: Vec<ConversationItemContent>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
-struct ConversationItemContent {
-    #[serde(rename = "type")]
-    kind: String,
-    text: String,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
-#[serde(tag = "type")]
-enum RealtimeInboundMessage {
-    #[serde(rename = "session.created")]
-    SessionCreated {
-        #[serde(default)]
-        session_id: Option<String>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        session: Option<RealtimeInboundSession>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "session.updated")]
-    SessionUpdated {
-        #[serde(default)]
-        session: Option<RealtimeInboundSession>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "response.output_audio.delta")]
-    OutputAudioDelta {
-        #[serde(default)]
-        delta: Option<String>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        data: Option<String>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        sample_rate: Option<u32>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        num_channels: Option<u16>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "conversation.item.added")]
-    ConversationItemAdded {
-        #[serde(default)]
-        item: Option<Value>,
-    },
-    #[serde(rename = "error")]
-    Error {
-        #[serde(default)]
-        error: Option<Value>,
-        #[serde(default)]
-        message: Option<String>,
-    },
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
-struct RealtimeInboundSession {
-    #[serde(default)]
-    id: Option<String>,
-    #[serde(default)]
-    backend_prompt: Option<String>,
-}
-
 pub struct RealtimeWebsocketConnection {
-    stream: Arc<Mutex<Option<WsStream>>>,
+    writer: RealtimeWebsocketWriter,
+    events: RealtimeWebsocketEvents,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct RealtimeWebsocketWriter {
+    stream: Arc<WsStream>,
+    is_closed: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct RealtimeWebsocketEvents {
+    rx_message: Arc<Mutex<mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<Result<Message, WsError>>>>,
+    is_closed: Arc<AtomicBool>,
 }
 
 impl RealtimeWebsocketConnection {
-    fn new(stream: WsStream) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            stream: Arc::new(Mutex::new(Some(stream))),
-        }
+    pub async fn send_audio_frame(&self, frame: RealtimeAudioFrame) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        self.writer.send_audio_frame(frame).await
     }
 
+    pub async fn send_conversation_item_create(&self, text: String) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        self.writer.send_conversation_item_create(text).await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn send_session_update(
+        &self,
+        backend_prompt: String,
+        conversation_id: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        self.writer
+            .send_session_update(backend_prompt, conversation_id)
+            .await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn send_session_create(
+        &self,
+        backend_prompt: String,
+        conversation_id: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        self.writer
+            .send_session_create(backend_prompt, conversation_id)
+            .await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        self.writer.close().await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn next_event(&self) -> Result<Option<RealtimeEvent>, ApiError> {
+        self.events.next_event().await
+    }
+
+    pub fn writer(&self) -> RealtimeWebsocketWriter {
+        self.writer.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn events(&self) -> RealtimeWebsocketEvents {
+        self.events.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn new(
+        stream: WsStream,
+        rx_message: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<Result<Message, WsError>>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let stream = Arc::new(stream);
+        let is_closed = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+        Self {
+            writer: RealtimeWebsocketWriter {
+                stream: Arc::clone(&stream),
+                is_closed: Arc::clone(&is_closed),
+            },
+            events: RealtimeWebsocketEvents {
+                rx_message: Arc::new(Mutex::new(rx_message)),
+                is_closed,
+            },
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl RealtimeWebsocketWriter {
     pub async fn send_audio_frame(&self, frame: RealtimeAudioFrame) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
         self.send_json(RealtimeOutboundMessage::InputAudioDelta {
             delta: frame.data,
@@ -340,36 +283,56 @@ impl RealtimeWebsocketConnection {
     }
 
     pub async fn close(&self) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
-        let mut guard = self.stream.lock().await;
-        let Some(ws) = guard.as_ref() else {
+        if self.is_closed.swap(true, Ordering::SeqCst) {
             return Ok(());
-        };
-        if let Err(err) = ws.close().await
+        }
+        if let Err(err) = self.stream.close().await
             && !matches!(err, WsError::ConnectionClosed | WsError::AlreadyClosed)
         {
-            return Err(ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to close websocket: {err}")));
+            return Err(ApiError::Stream(format!(
+                "failed to close websocket: {err}"
+            )));
         }
-        *guard = None;
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    async fn send_json(&self, message: RealtimeOutboundMessage) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        let payload = serde_json::to_string(&message)
+            .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to encode realtime request: {err}")))?;
+        trace!("realtime websocket request: {payload}");
+
+        if self.is_closed.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+            return Err(ApiError::Stream(
+                "realtime websocket connection is closed".to_string(),
+            ));
+        }
+
+        self.stream
+            .send(Message::Text(payload.into()))
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to send realtime request: {err}")))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl RealtimeWebsocketEvents {
     pub async fn next_event(&self) -> Result<Option<RealtimeEvent>, ApiError> {
-        let mut guard = self.stream.lock().await;
-        let Some(ws) = guard.as_mut() else {
+        if self.is_closed.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
             return Ok(Some(RealtimeEvent::State(
                 RealtimeConnectionState::Disconnected,
             )));
-        };
+        }
 
-        let msg = match ws.next().await {
+        let msg = match self.rx_message.lock().await.recv().await {
             Some(Ok(msg)) => msg,
             Some(Err(err)) => {
+                self.is_closed.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
                 return Err(ApiError::Stream(format!(
                     "failed to read websocket message: {err}"
                 )));
             }
             None => {
-                *guard = None;
+                self.is_closed.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
                 return Ok(Some(RealtimeEvent::State(
                     RealtimeConnectionState::Disconnected,
                 )));
@@ -379,7 +342,7 @@ impl RealtimeWebsocketConnection {
         match msg {
             Message::Text(text) => Ok(parse_realtime_event(&text)),
             Message::Close(_) => {
-                *guard = None;
+                self.is_closed.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
                 Ok(Some(RealtimeEvent::State(
                     RealtimeConnectionState::Disconnected,
                 )))
@@ -390,24 +353,6 @@ impl RealtimeWebsocketConnection {
             Message::Frame(_) | Message::Ping(_) | Message::Pong(_) => Ok(None),
         }
     }
-
-    async fn send_json(&self, message: RealtimeOutboundMessage) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
-        let payload = serde_json::to_string(&message)
-            .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to encode realtime request: {err}")))?;
-        trace!("realtime websocket request: {payload}");
-
-        let guard = self.stream.lock().await;
-        let Some(ws) = guard.as_ref() else {
-            return Err(ApiError::Stream(
-                "realtime websocket connection is closed".to_string(),
-            ));
-        };
-
-        ws.send(Message::Text(payload.into()))
-            .await
-            .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to send realtime request: {err}")))?;
-        Ok(())
-    }
 }
 
 pub struct RealtimeWebsocketClient {
@@ -432,20 +377,19 @@ impl RealtimeWebsocketClient {
             .as_str()
             .into_client_request()
             .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to build websocket request: {err}")))?;
-        let headers =
-            merge_request_headers(&self.provider.headers, extra_headers, default_headers);
+        let headers = merge_request_headers(&self.provider.headers, extra_headers, default_headers);
         request.headers_mut().extend(headers);
 
         info!("connecting realtime websocket: {ws_url}");
-        let (stream, _) = tokio_tungstenite::connect_async_with_config(
-            request,
-            Some(websocket_config()),
-            false,
-        )
-        .await
-        .map_err(|err| ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to connect realtime websocket: {err}")))?;
+        let (stream, _) =
+            tokio_tungstenite::connect_async_with_config(request, Some(websocket_config()), false)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|err| {
+                    ApiError::Stream(format!("failed to connect realtime websocket: {err}"))
+                })?;
 
-        let connection = RealtimeWebsocketConnection::new(WsStream::new(stream));
+        let (stream, rx_message) = WsStream::new(stream);
+        let connection = RealtimeWebsocketConnection::new(stream, rx_message);
         connection
             .send_session_create(config.prompt, config.session_id)
             .await?;
@@ -453,53 +397,6 @@ impl RealtimeWebsocketClient {
     }
 }
 
-fn parse_realtime_event(payload: &str) -> Option<RealtimeEvent> {
-    let parsed: RealtimeInboundMessage = match serde_json::from_str(payload) {
-        Ok(msg) => msg,
-        Err(err) => {
-            debug!("failed to parse realtime event: {err}, data: {payload}");
-            return None;
-        }
-    };
-
-    match parsed {
-        RealtimeInboundMessage::SessionCreated {
-            session_id,
-            session,
-        } => {
-            let session_id = session.and_then(|s| s.id).or(session_id);
-            session_id.map(|id| RealtimeEvent::SessionCreated { session_id: id })
-        }
-        RealtimeInboundMessage::SessionUpdated { session } => Some(RealtimeEvent::SessionUpdated {
-            backend_prompt: session.and_then(|s| s.backend_prompt),
-        }),
-        RealtimeInboundMessage::OutputAudioDelta {
-            delta,
-            data,
-            sample_rate,
-            num_channels,
-            samples_per_channel,
-        } => {
-            let data = delta.or(data).unwrap_or_default();
-            Some(RealtimeEvent::AudioOut(RealtimeAudioFrame {
-                data,
-                sample_rate: sample_rate.unwrap_or(0),
-                num_channels: num_channels.unwrap_or(1),
-                samples_per_channel,
-            }))
-        }
-        RealtimeInboundMessage::ConversationItemAdded { item } => {
-            item.map(RealtimeEvent::ConversationItemAdded)
-        }
-        RealtimeInboundMessage::Error { error, message } => {
-            let message = message
-                .or_else(|| error.map(|e| e.to_string()))
-                .unwrap_or_else(|| "unknown realtime error".to_string());
-            Some(RealtimeEvent::Error(message))
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 fn merge_request_headers(
     provider_headers: &HeaderMap,
     extra_headers: HeaderMap,
@@ -549,6 +446,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use http::HeaderValue;
     use pretty_assertions::assert_eq;
+    use serde_json::Value;
     use serde_json::json;
     use std::collections::HashMap;
     use std::time::Duration;
@@ -822,4 +720,104 @@ mod tests {
         connection.close().await.expect("close");
         server.await.expect("server task");
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn send_does_not_block_while_next_event_waits_for_inbound_data() {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.expect("bind");
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("local addr");
+
+        let server = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            let (stream, _) = listener.accept().await.expect("accept");
+            let mut ws = accept_async(stream).await.expect("accept ws");
+
+            let first = ws
+                .next()
+                .await
+                .expect("first msg")
+                .expect("first msg ok")
+                .into_text()
+                .expect("text");
+            let first_json: Value = serde_json::from_str(&first).expect("json");
+            assert_eq!(first_json["type"], "session.create");
+
+            let second = ws
+                .next()
+                .await
+                .expect("second msg")
+                .expect("second msg ok")
+                .into_text()
+                .expect("text");
+            let second_json: Value = serde_json::from_str(&second).expect("json");
+            assert_eq!(second_json["type"], "response.input_audio.delta");
+
+            ws.send(Message::Text(
+                json!({
+                    "type": "session.created",
+                    "session": {"id": "sess_after_send"}
+                })
+                .to_string()
+                .into(),
+            ))
+            .await
+            .expect("send session.created");
+        });
+
+        let provider = Provider {
+            name: "test".to_string(),
+            base_url: "http://localhost".to_string(),
+            query_params: Some(HashMap::new()),
+            headers: HeaderMap::new(),
+            retry: crate::provider::RetryConfig {
+                max_attempts: 1,
+                base_delay: Duration::from_millis(1),
+                retry_429: false,
+                retry_5xx: false,
+                retry_transport: false,
+            },
+            stream_idle_timeout: Duration::from_secs(5),
+        };
+        let client = RealtimeWebsocketClient::new(provider);
+        let connection = client
+            .connect(
+                RealtimeSessionConfig {
+                    api_url: format!("ws://{addr}"),
+                    prompt: "backend prompt".to_string(),
+                    session_id: Some("conv_1".to_string()),
+                },
+                HeaderMap::new(),
+                HeaderMap::new(),
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("connect");
+
+        let (send_result, next_result) = tokio::join!(
+            async {
+                tokio::time::timeout(
+                    Duration::from_millis(200),
+                    connection.send_audio_frame(RealtimeAudioFrame {
+                        data: "AQID".to_string(),
+                        sample_rate: 48000,
+                        num_channels: 1,
+                        samples_per_channel: Some(960),
+                    }),
+                )
+                .await
+            },
+            connection.next_event()
+        );
+
+        send_result
+            .expect("send should not block on next_event")
+            .expect("send audio");
+        let next_event = next_result.expect("next event").expect("event");
+        assert_eq!(
+            next_event,
+            RealtimeEvent::SessionCreated {
+                session_id: "sess_after_send".to_string()
+            }
+        );
+
+        connection.close().await.expect("close");
+        server.await.expect("server task");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/mod.rs b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7b10c6abdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+pub mod methods;
+pub mod protocol;
+
+pub use methods::RealtimeWebsocketClient;
+pub use methods::RealtimeWebsocketConnection;
+pub use methods::RealtimeWebsocketEvents;
+pub use methods::RealtimeWebsocketWriter;
+pub use protocol::RealtimeAudioFrame;
+pub use protocol::RealtimeConnectionState;
+pub use protocol::RealtimeEvent;
+pub use protocol::RealtimeSessionConfig;
diff --git a/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/protocol.rs b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/protocol.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f14df8bbb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/codex-api/src/endpoint/realtime_websocket/protocol.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::Serialize;
+use serde_json::Value;
+use tracing::debug;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct RealtimeSessionConfig {
+    pub api_url: String,
+    pub prompt: String,
+    pub session_id: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct RealtimeAudioFrame {
+    pub data: String,
+    pub sample_rate: u32,
+    pub num_channels: u16,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum RealtimeConnectionState {
+    Connected,
+    Disconnected,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum RealtimeEvent {
+    State(RealtimeConnectionState),
+    SessionCreated { session_id: String },
+    SessionUpdated { backend_prompt: Option<String> },
+    AudioOut(RealtimeAudioFrame),
+    ConversationItemAdded(Value),
+    Error(String),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+pub(super) enum RealtimeOutboundMessage {
+    #[serde(rename = "response.input_audio.delta")]
+    InputAudioDelta {
+        delta: String,
+        sample_rate: u32,
+        num_channels: u16,
+        #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+        samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
+    },
+    #[serde(rename = "session.create")]
+    SessionCreate { session: SessionCreateSession },
+    #[serde(rename = "session.update")]
+    SessionUpdate {
+        #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+        session: Option<SessionUpdateSession>,
+    },
+    #[serde(rename = "conversation.item.create")]
+    ConversationItemCreate { item: ConversationItem },
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub(super) struct SessionUpdateSession {
+    pub(super) backend_prompt: String,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub(super) conversation_id: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub(super) struct SessionCreateSession {
+    pub(super) backend_prompt: String,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub(super) conversation_id: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub(super) struct ConversationItem {
+    #[serde(rename = "type")]
+    pub(super) kind: String,
+    pub(super) role: String,
+    pub(super) content: Vec<ConversationItemContent>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub(super) struct ConversationItemContent {
+    #[serde(rename = "type")]
+    pub(super) kind: String,
+    pub(super) text: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+enum RealtimeInboundMessage {
+    #[serde(rename = "session.created")]
+    SessionCreated {
+        session_id: Option<String>,
+        session: Option<RealtimeInboundSession>,
+    },
+    #[serde(rename = "session.updated")]
+    SessionUpdated {
+        session: Option<RealtimeInboundSession>,
+    },
+    #[serde(rename = "response.output_audio.delta")]
+    OutputAudioDelta {
+        delta: Option<String>,
+        data: Option<String>,
+        sample_rate: Option<u32>,
+        num_channels: Option<u16>,
+        samples_per_channel: Option<u32>,
+    },
+    #[serde(rename = "conversation.item.added")]
+    ConversationItemAdded { item: Option<Value> },
+    #[serde(rename = "error")]
+    Error {
+        error: Option<Value>,
+        message: Option<String>,
+    },
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+struct RealtimeInboundSession {
+    id: Option<String>,
+    backend_prompt: Option<String>,
+}
+
+pub(super) fn parse_realtime_event(payload: &str) -> Option<RealtimeEvent> {
+    let parsed: RealtimeInboundMessage = match serde_json::from_str(payload) {
+        Ok(msg) => msg,
+        Err(err) => {
+            debug!("failed to parse realtime event: {err}, data: {payload}");
+            return None;
+        }
+    };
+
+    match parsed {
+        RealtimeInboundMessage::SessionCreated {
+            session_id,
+            session,
+        } => {
+            let session_id = session.and_then(|s| s.id).or(session_id);
+            session_id.map(|id| RealtimeEvent::SessionCreated { session_id: id })
+        }
+        RealtimeInboundMessage::SessionUpdated { session } => Some(RealtimeEvent::SessionUpdated {
+            backend_prompt: session.and_then(|s| s.backend_prompt),
+        }),
+        RealtimeInboundMessage::OutputAudioDelta {
+            delta,
+            data,
+            sample_rate,
+            num_channels,
+            samples_per_channel,
+        } => {
+            let data = delta.or(data)?;
+            let sample_rate = sample_rate?;
+            let num_channels = num_channels?;
+            Some(RealtimeEvent::AudioOut(RealtimeAudioFrame {
+                data,
+                sample_rate,
+                num_channels,
+                samples_per_channel,
+            }))
+        }
+        RealtimeInboundMessage::ConversationItemAdded { item } => {
+            item.map(RealtimeEvent::ConversationItemAdded)
+        }
+        RealtimeInboundMessage::Error { error, message } => {
+            let message = message.or_else(|| error.map(|e| e.to_string()))?;
+            Some(RealtimeEvent::Error(message))
+        }
+    }
+}