diff --git a/guidance/models/_model.py b/guidance/models/_model.py
index da02a3ce7..c9fa030f0 100644
--- a/guidance/models/_model.py
+++ b/guidance/models/_model.py
@@ -543,13 +543,19 @@ def __call__(
                     delayed_engine_outputs = []
             elif not echo and engine_response.new_bytes:
                 # do not collect tokens-metrics if echo is disabled
-                engine_response.generated_bytes = engine_response.new_bytes
-                engine_response.generated_tokens.clear()
+                try:
+                    _ = (delayed_bytes + engine_response.new_bytes).decode("utf-8")
+                    engine_response.generated_bytes = delayed_bytes + engine_response.new_bytes
+                    delayed_bytes = b""
+                    engine_response.generated_tokens.clear()
+                except UnicodeDecodeError:
+                    delayed_bytes += engine_response.new_bytes
 
             # process engine_response
             # NOTE (loc): We should not yield the engine_response if new_bytes are invalid utf-8 bytes
             # delayed bytes should be handled here in the engine
-            yield engine_response
+            if delayed_bytes == b"":
+                yield engine_response
 
             if ll_response.stop:
                 assert mask is None
@@ -1404,52 +1410,36 @@ def _run_stateless(self, stateless_function, temperature=0.0, top_p=1.0, n=1):
 
         # single generation
         if n == 1:
-            generated_value = ""
             # logprobs_out = []
-
-            delayed_bytes = b""
-            # last_is_generated = False
-
             for chunk in gen_obj:
-
                 # we make everything full probability if we are not computing uncertainty
                 # if not self.engine.compute_log_probs:
                 #     chunk.new_bytes_prob = 1.0
 
                 # convert the bytes to a string (delaying if we don't yet have a valid unicode string)
                 lm.token_count += chunk.new_token_count
-                chunk.new_bytes = delayed_bytes + chunk.new_bytes
-                try:
-                    new_text = chunk.new_bytes.decode("utf8")
-                except UnicodeDecodeError:
-                    delayed_bytes = chunk.new_bytes
-                    continue
-                delayed_bytes = b""
 
                 if chunk.backtrack:
                     lm.engine.metrics.engine_backtrack_tokens += chunk.backtrack
 
-                if len(chunk.new_bytes) > 0:
-                    generated_value += new_text
-
-                    # split chunk into generated and force_forwarded parts for better animated visualization
-                    if chunk.generated_bytes:
-                        lm += TextOutput(
-                            value=chunk.generated_bytes.decode("utf8"),
-                            is_generated=True,
-                            token_count=0,
-                            prob=0.0,
-                            tokens=chunk.generated_tokens,
-                        )
+                # split chunk into generated and force_forwarded parts for better animated visualization
+                if chunk.generated_bytes:
+                    lm += TextOutput(
+                        value=chunk.generated_bytes.decode("utf8"),
+                        is_generated=True,
+                        token_count=0,
+                        prob=0.0,
+                        tokens=chunk.generated_tokens,
+                    )
 
-                    if chunk.force_forwarded_bytes:
-                        lm += TextOutput(
-                            value=chunk.force_forwarded_bytes.decode("utf8"),
-                            is_force_forwarded=True,
-                            token_count=0,
-                            prob=0.0,
-                            tokens=chunk.force_forwarded_tokens,
-                        )
+                if chunk.force_forwarded_bytes:
+                    lm += TextOutput(
+                        value=chunk.force_forwarded_bytes.decode("utf8"),
+                        is_force_forwarded=True,
+                        token_count=0,
+                        prob=0.0,
+                        tokens=chunk.force_forwarded_tokens,
+                    )
 
                 if self.echo:
                     lm.vis_chunk = VisBytesChunk(
@@ -1462,7 +1452,6 @@ def _run_stateless(self, stateless_function, temperature=0.0, top_p=1.0, n=1):
                         engine_outputs=chunk.engine_outputs,
                     )
 
-                # last_is_generated = chunk.is_generated
                 if len(chunk.capture_groups) > 0:
                     for k in chunk.capture_groups:
                         v = chunk.capture_groups[k]