diff --git a/litellm/llms/OpenAI/o1_reasoning.py b/litellm/llms/OpenAI/o1_reasoning.py
index c2c48456f6..03038b7ce6 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/OpenAI/o1_reasoning.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/OpenAI/o1_reasoning.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/reasoning
 
 Translations handled by LiteLLM:
 - modalities: image => drop param (if user opts in to dropping param)  
-- role: system ==> translate to role assistant 
+- role: system ==> translate to role 'user' 
 - streaming => faked by LiteLLM 
 - Tools, response_format =>  drop param (if user opts in to dropping param) 
 - Logprobs => drop param (if user opts in to dropping param) 
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_openai_o1.py b/litellm/tests/test_openai_o1.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f08c71ca98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_openai_o1.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import json
+from datetime import datetime
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
+
+import httpx
+import pytest
+from respx import MockRouter
+
+import litellm
+from litellm import Choices, Message, ModelResponse
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.respx
+async def test_o1_handle_system_role(respx_mock: MockRouter):
+    """
+    Tests that:
+    - max_tokens is translated to 'max_completion_tokens'
+    - role 'system' is translated to 'user'
+    """
+    litellm.set_verbose = True
+
+    mock_response = ModelResponse(
+        id="cmpl-mock",
+        choices=[Choices(message=Message(content="Mocked response", role="assistant"))],
+        created=int(datetime.now().timestamp()),
+        model="o1-preview",
+    )
+
+    mock_request = respx_mock.post("https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions").mock(
+        return_value=httpx.Response(200, json=mock_response.dict())
+    )
+
+    response = await litellm.acompletion(
+        model="o1-preview",
+        max_tokens=10,
+        messages=[{"role": "system", "content": "Hello!"}],
+    )
+
+    assert mock_request.called
+    request_body = json.loads(mock_request.calls[0].request.content)
+
+    print("request_body: ", request_body)
+
+    assert request_body == {
+        "model": "o1-preview",
+        "max_completion_tokens": 10,
+        "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}],
+    }
+
+    print(f"response: {response}")
+    assert isinstance(response, ModelResponse)
+    assert response.choices[0].message.content == "Mocked response"
+
+
+# ... existing code ...