diff --git a/src/google/adk/artifacts/gcs_artifact_service.py b/src/google/adk/artifacts/gcs_artifact_service.py
index 4108cfb06b..4a46c9e4c6 100644
--- a/src/google/adk/artifacts/gcs_artifact_service.py
+++ b/src/google/adk/artifacts/gcs_artifact_service.py
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ def _save_artifact(
           data=artifact.inline_data.data,
           content_type=artifact.inline_data.mime_type,
       )
-    elif artifact.text:
+    elif artifact.text is not None:
+      blob.metadata = {**(blob.metadata or {}), "_adk_is_text": "true"}
       blob.upload_from_string(
           data=artifact.text,
           content_type="text/plain",
@@ -260,15 +261,18 @@ def _load_artifact(
     blob_name = self._get_blob_name(
         app_name, user_id, filename, version, session_id
     )
-    blob = self.bucket.blob(blob_name)
+    blob = self.bucket.get_blob(blob_name)
+    if not blob:
+      return None
 
     artifact_bytes = blob.download_as_bytes()
-    if not artifact_bytes:
-      return None
-    artifact = types.Part.from_bytes(
+
+    if blob.metadata and blob.metadata.get("_adk_is_text") == "true":
+      return types.Part(text=artifact_bytes.decode("utf-8"))
+
+    return types.Part.from_bytes(
         data=artifact_bytes, mime_type=blob.content_type
     )
-    return artifact
 
   def _list_artifact_keys(
       self, app_name: str, user_id: str, session_id: Optional[str]
diff --git a/tests/unittests/artifacts/test_artifact_service.py b/tests/unittests/artifacts/test_artifact_service.py
index ec74f8abe3..59e31d93bc 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/artifacts/test_artifact_service.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/artifacts/test_artifact_service.py
@@ -766,3 +766,74 @@ async def test_file_save_artifact_rejects_absolute_path_within_scope(tmp_path):
         filename=str(absolute_in_scope),
         artifact=part,
     )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "service_type",
+    [
+        ArtifactServiceType.IN_MEMORY,
+        ArtifactServiceType.GCS,
+        ArtifactServiceType.FILE,
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "text_content",
+    ['{"key": "value"}', "some other text"],
+)
+async def test_save_load_text_artifact(
+    service_type, artifact_service_factory, text_content
+):
+  """Tests that text artifacts retain .text after round-trip save/load."""
+  artifact_service = artifact_service_factory(service_type)
+  artifact = types.Part.from_text(text=text_content)
+
+  await artifact_service.save_artifact(
+      app_name="app0",
+      user_id="user0",
+      session_id="123",
+      filename="data.json",
+      artifact=artifact,
+  )
+  loaded = await artifact_service.load_artifact(
+      app_name="app0",
+      user_id="user0",
+      session_id="123",
+      filename="data.json",
+  )
+  assert loaded is not None
+  assert loaded.text == text_content
+  assert loaded.inline_data is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "service_type",
+    [
+        ArtifactServiceType.GCS,
+        ArtifactServiceType.FILE,
+    ],
+)
+async def test_save_load_empty_text_artifact(
+    service_type, artifact_service_factory
+):
+  """Tests that empty text artifacts survive round-trip save/load."""
+  artifact_service = artifact_service_factory(service_type)
+  artifact = types.Part.from_text(text="")
+
+  await artifact_service.save_artifact(
+      app_name="app0",
+      user_id="user0",
+      session_id="123",
+      filename="empty.txt",
+      artifact=artifact,
+  )
+  loaded = await artifact_service.load_artifact(
+      app_name="app0",
+      user_id="user0",
+      session_id="123",
+      filename="empty.txt",
+  )
+  assert loaded is not None
+  assert loaded.text == ""
+  assert loaded.inline_data is None