diff --git a/src/crewai/crew.py b/src/crewai/crew.py
index b5f3e3ff5..932e443f1 100644
--- a/src/crewai/crew.py
+++ b/src/crewai/crew.py
@@ -618,7 +618,10 @@ class Crew(BaseModel):
                 agent.set_knowledge(crew_embedder=self.embedder)
                 # TODO: Create an AgentFunctionCalling protocol for future refactoring
                 if not agent.function_calling_llm:  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"
-                    agent.function_calling_llm = self.function_calling_llm  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"
+                    if self.function_calling_llm:
+                        agent.function_calling_llm = self.function_calling_llm  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"
+                    else:
+                        agent.function_calling_llm = agent.llm  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "function_calling_llm"
 
                 if not agent.step_callback:  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "step_callback"
                     agent.step_callback = self.step_callback  # type: ignore # "BaseAgent" has no attribute "step_callback"
diff --git a/tests/agent_test.py b/tests/agent_test.py
index d437a57fc..5d46645d4 100644
--- a/tests/agent_test.py
+++ b/tests/agent_test.py
@@ -1819,3 +1819,42 @@ def test_litellm_anthropic_error_handling():
 
     # Verify the LLM call was only made once (no retries)
     mock_llm_call.assert_called_once()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.vcr(filter_headers=["authorization"])
+def test_agent_uses_own_llm_for_function_calling_when_not_specified():
+    """
+    Test that an agent uses its own LLM for function calling when no function_calling_llm
+    is specified, ensuring that non-OpenAI models like Gemini can be used without
+    requiring OpenAI API keys.
+    """
+    @tool
+    def simple_tool(input_text: str) -> str:
+        """A simple tool that returns the input text."""
+        return f"Tool processed: {input_text}"
+
+    agent = Agent(
+        role="Gemini Agent",
+        goal="Test Gemini model without OpenAI dependency",
+        backstory="I am a test agent using Gemini model",
+        llm="gemini/gemini-1.5-flash",  # Using Gemini model
+        verbose=True
+    )
+    
+    with patch.object(LLM, 'supports_function_calling', return_value=True):
+        with patch('crewai.tools.tool_usage.ToolUsage') as mock_tool_usage:
+            task = Task(
+                description="Use the simple tool",
+                expected_output="Tool result",
+                agent=agent
+            )
+            
+            try:
+                agent.execute_task(task, tools=[simple_tool])
+                
+                args, kwargs = mock_tool_usage.call_args
+                assert kwargs['function_calling_llm'] == agent.llm
+                assert kwargs['function_calling_llm'].model.startswith("gemini")
+            except Exception as e:
+                if "OPENAI_API_KEY" in str(e):
+                    pytest.fail("Test failed with OpenAI API key error despite using Gemini model")
diff --git a/tests/crew_test.py b/tests/crew_test.py
index d7e4740cd..0e6c91303 100644
--- a/tests/crew_test.py
+++ b/tests/crew_test.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ from crewai.utilities.events.crew_events import (
 from crewai.utilities.events.event_listener import EventListener
 from crewai.utilities.rpm_controller import RPMController
 from crewai.utilities.task_output_storage_handler import TaskOutputStorageHandler
+from crewai.tools import tool
 
 # Skip streaming tests when running in CI/CD environments
 skip_streaming_in_ci = pytest.mark.skipif(
@@ -4119,3 +4120,48 @@ def test_crew_kickoff_for_each_works_with_manager_agent_copy():
     assert crew_copy.manager_agent.backstory == crew.manager_agent.backstory
     assert isinstance(crew_copy.manager_agent.agent_executor, CrewAgentExecutor)
     assert isinstance(crew_copy.manager_agent.cache_handler, CacheHandler)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.vcr(filter_headers=["authorization"])
+def test_crew_agents_use_own_llm_for_function_calling():
+    """
+    Test that agents in a crew use their own LLM for function calling when no
+    function_calling_llm is specified for either the agent or the crew.
+    """
+    @tool
+    def simple_tool(input_text: str) -> str:
+        """A simple tool that returns the input text."""
+        return f"Tool processed: {input_text}"
+    
+    gemini_agent = Agent(
+        role="Gemini Agent",
+        goal="Test Gemini model without OpenAI dependency",
+        backstory="I am a test agent using Gemini model",
+        llm="gemini/gemini-1.5-flash",  # Using Gemini model
+        tools=[simple_tool],
+        verbose=True
+    )
+    
+    crew = Crew(
+        agents=[gemini_agent],
+        tasks=[
+            Task(
+                description="Use the simple tool to process 'test input'",
+                expected_output="Processed result",
+                agent=gemini_agent
+            )
+        ],
+        verbose=True
+    )
+    
+    with patch.object(LLM, 'supports_function_calling', return_value=True):
+        with patch('crewai.tools.tool_usage.ToolUsage') as mock_tool_usage:
+            try:
+                crew.kickoff()
+                
+                args, kwargs = mock_tool_usage.call_args
+                assert kwargs['function_calling_llm'] == gemini_agent.llm
+                assert kwargs['function_calling_llm'].model.startswith("gemini")
+            except Exception as e:
+                if "OPENAI_API_KEY" in str(e):
+                    pytest.fail("Test failed with OpenAI API key error despite using Gemini model")