diff --git a/docs/docs/core/actions.md b/docs/docs/core/actions.md
index 163a1b2a80..529ff18ea3 100644
--- a/docs/docs/core/actions.md
+++ b/docs/docs/core/actions.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ interface Action {
     examples: ActionExample[][];
     handler: Handler;
     validate: Validator;
+    suppressInitialMessage?: boolean;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ interface Action {
         state?: State,
     ) => Promise<void>;
     examples: ActionExample[][];
+    suppressInitialMessage?: boolean;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ interface Action {
 - **validate**: Determines if the action can be executed
 - **handler**: Implements the action's behavior
 - **examples**: Demonstrates proper usage patterns
+- **suppressInitialMessage**: When true, suppresses the initial response message before processing the action. Useful for actions that generate their own responses (like image generation)
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/packages/client-direct/src/index.ts b/packages/client-direct/src/index.ts
index 11ee361568..e8496517b7 100644
--- a/packages/client-direct/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/client-direct/src/index.ts
@@ -222,6 +222,13 @@ export class DirectClient {
 
                 await runtime.evaluate(memory, state);
 
+                // Check if we should suppress the initial message
+                const action = runtime.actions.find(
+                    (a) => a.name === response.action
+                );
+                const shouldSuppressInitialMessage =
+                    action?.suppressInitialMessage;
+
                 const _result = await runtime.processActions(
                     memory,
                     [responseMessage],
@@ -232,10 +239,18 @@ export class DirectClient {
                     }
                 );
 
-                if (message) {
-                    res.json([response, message]);
+                if (!shouldSuppressInitialMessage) {
+                    if (message) {
+                        res.json([response, message]);
+                    } else {
+                        res.json([response]);
+                    }
                 } else {
-                    res.json([response]);
+                    if (message) {
+                        res.json([message]);
+                    } else {
+                        res.json([]);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         );
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types.ts b/packages/core/src/types.ts
index 5f83e29c66..8e98a8e93e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/types.ts
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@ export interface Action {
 
     /** Validation function */
     validate: Validator;
+
+    /** Whether to suppress the initial message when this action is used */
+    suppressInitialMessage?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/plugin-image-generation/src/index.ts b/packages/plugin-image-generation/src/index.ts
index 1be67fca92..bf65aacc66 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-image-generation/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-image-generation/src/index.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const imageGeneration: Action = {
         "MAKE_A",
     ],
     description: "Generate an image to go along with the message.",
+    suppressInitialMessage: true,
     validate: async (runtime: IAgentRuntime, _message: Memory) => {
         await validateImageGenConfig(runtime);