diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai_and_google_ai_studio/gemini/vertex_and_google_ai_studio_gemini.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai_and_google_ai_studio/gemini/vertex_and_google_ai_studio_gemini.py
index 7d3c09271e..9b57c293e0 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_ai_and_google_ai_studio/gemini/vertex_and_google_ai_studio_gemini.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_ai_and_google_ai_studio/gemini/vertex_and_google_ai_studio_gemini.py
@@ -1293,9 +1293,12 @@ class VertexLLM(BaseLLM):
         _async_client_params = {}
         if timeout:
             _async_client_params["timeout"] = timeout
-        client = get_async_httpx_client(
-            params=_async_client_params, llm_provider=litellm.LlmProviders.VERTEX_AI
-        )
+        if client is None or not isinstance(client, AsyncHTTPHandler):
+            client = get_async_httpx_client(
+                params=_async_client_params, llm_provider=litellm.LlmProviders.VERTEX_AI
+            )
+        else:
+            client = client  # type: ignore
         ## LOGGING
         logging_obj.pre_call(
             input=messages,