diff --git a/agent.py b/agent.py
index e7a73e8589..a348ed63c5 100644
--- a/agent.py
+++ b/agent.py
@@ -978,11 +978,10 @@ async def validate_tool_request(self, tool_request: Any):
             raise ValueError("Tool request must be a dictionary")
         if not tool_request.get("tool_name") or not isinstance(tool_request.get("tool_name"), str):
             raise ValueError("Tool request must have a tool_name (type string) field")
-        if "tool_args" not in tool_request or not isinstance(tool_request.get("tool_args"), dict):
+        tool_args_value = tool_request.get("tool_args", tool_request.get("args"))
+        if tool_args_value is not None and not isinstance(tool_args_value, dict):
             raise ValueError("Tool request must have a tool_args (type dictionary) field")
 
-
-
     async def handle_reasoning_stream(self, stream: str):
         await self.handle_intervention()
         await extension.call_extensions_async(