diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index 6b129cf26a..c4b06770d3 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ use codex_protocol::config_types::Settings;
 use codex_protocol::config_types::WindowsSandboxLevel;
 use codex_protocol::items::AgentMessageContent;
 use codex_protocol::items::AgentMessageItem;
-use codex_protocol::items::TurnItem;
 use codex_protocol::models::MessagePhase;
 use codex_protocol::models::local_image_label_text;
 use codex_protocol::parse_command::ParsedCommand;
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/realtime.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/realtime.rs
index 99aefdf4b8..c1614d04b0 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/realtime.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/realtime.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 use super::*;
-use codex_core::parse_turn_item;
-use codex_protocol::models::ResponseInputItem;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::ConversationStartParams;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeAudioFrame;
 use codex_protocol::protocol::RealtimeConversationClosedEvent;
@@ -92,14 +90,40 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     pub(super) fn rendered_user_message_event_from_inputs(
         items: &[UserInput],
     ) -> RenderedUserMessageEvent {
-        let response_item = ResponseInputItem::from(items.to_vec()).into();
-        let Some(TurnItem::UserMessage(user_message)) = parse_turn_item(&response_item) else {
-            unreachable!("user inputs must round-trip into a user-message turn item");
-        };
-        let EventMsg::UserMessage(event) = user_message.as_legacy_event() else {
-            unreachable!("UserMessageItem::as_legacy_event must return UserMessage");
-        };
-        Self::rendered_user_message_event_from_event(&event)
+        let mut message = String::new();
+        let mut remote_image_urls = Vec::new();
+        let mut local_images = Vec::new();
+        let mut text_elements = Vec::new();
+
+        for item in items {
+            match item {
+                UserInput::Text {
+                    text,
+                    text_elements: current_text_elements,
+                } => {
+                    let offset = message.len();
+                    for element in current_text_elements {
+                        text_elements.push(TextElement::new(
+                            (offset + element.byte_range.start..offset + element.byte_range.end)
+                                .into(),
+                            element.placeholder(text).map(str::to_string),
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    message.push_str(text);
+                }
+                UserInput::Image { image_url } => remote_image_urls.push(image_url.clone()),
+                UserInput::LocalImage { path } => local_images.push(path.clone()),
+                UserInput::Skill { .. } | UserInput::Mention { .. } => {}
+                _ => {}
+            }
+        }
+
+        Self::rendered_user_message_event_from_parts(
+            message,
+            text_elements,
+            local_images,
+            remote_image_urls,
+        )
     }
 
     pub(super) fn should_render_realtime_user_message_event(
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index 4d30458679..e052823c7a 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -3612,6 +3612,48 @@ async fn live_legacy_agent_message_after_item_completed_does_not_duplicate_assis
     assert!(drain_insert_history(&mut rx).is_empty());
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn rendered_user_message_event_from_inputs_matches_flattened_user_message_shape() {
+    let local_image = PathBuf::from("/tmp/local.png");
+    let rendered = ChatWidget::rendered_user_message_event_from_inputs(&[
+        UserInput::Text {
+            text: "hello ".to_string(),
+            text_elements: vec![TextElement::new((0..5).into(), None)],
+        },
+        UserInput::Image {
+            image_url: "https://example.com/remote.png".to_string(),
+        },
+        UserInput::LocalImage {
+            path: local_image.clone(),
+        },
+        UserInput::Skill {
+            name: "demo".to_string(),
+            path: PathBuf::from("/tmp/skill/SKILL.md"),
+        },
+        UserInput::Mention {
+            name: "repo".to_string(),
+            path: "app://repo".to_string(),
+        },
+        UserInput::Text {
+            text: "world".to_string(),
+            text_elements: vec![TextElement::new((0..5).into(), Some("planet".to_string()))],
+        },
+    ]);
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        rendered,
+        ChatWidget::rendered_user_message_event_from_parts(
+            "hello world".to_string(),
+            vec![
+                TextElement::new((0..5).into(), Some("hello".to_string())),
+                TextElement::new((6..11).into(), Some("planet".to_string())),
+            ],
+            vec![local_image],
+            vec!["https://example.com/remote.png".to_string()],
+        )
+    );
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn item_completed_only_pops_front_pending_steer() {
     let (mut chat, mut rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;