diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
index 208807717d..8f3b1d9afc 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/middleware.py
@@ -2235,7 +2235,7 @@ def sanitize_tool_pairs(messages: list[dict]) -> list[dict]:
     return sanitized
 
 
-SKILL_MENTION_RE = re.compile(r'<\$([^|>]+)\|?[^>]*>')
+SKILL_MENTION_RE = re.compile(r'<\$([^|>]+)(?:\|[^>]*)?>')
 
 
 def _get_text_parts(message: dict) -> list[str]:
@@ -2259,7 +2259,7 @@ def extract_skill_ids_from_messages(messages: list[dict]) -> set[str]:
 
 def strip_skill_mentions(messages: list[dict]) -> None:
     """Replace <$skillId|label> mention tags with the label in message content in-place."""
-    strip_re = re.compile(r'<\$[^|>]+\|?([^>]*)>')
+    strip_re = re.compile(r'<\$[^|>]+(?:\|([^>]*))?>')
     for message in messages:
         content = message.get('content')
         if isinstance(content, str) and strip_re.search(content):