diff --git a/lib/instructor/openai/patch.rb b/lib/instructor/openai/patch.rb
index 9456a24..3288fd3 100644
--- a/lib/instructor/openai/patch.rb
+++ b/lib/instructor/openai/patch.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def with_retries(max_retries, exceptions, &block)
       # @param validation_context [Hash] The validation context for the parameters. Optional.
       # @return [Object] The processed response.
       def chat(parameters:, response_model: nil, max_retries: 0, validation_context: nil)
+        return json_post(path: '/chat/completions', parameters:) if response_model.nil?
+
         with_retries(max_retries, [JSON::ParserError, Instructor::ValidationError, Faraday::ParsingError]) do
           model = determine_model(response_model)
           function = build_function(model)
@@ -103,7 +105,7 @@ def process_single_response(parsed_response, model)
       # Determines the response model based on the provided value.
       #
       # @param response_model [Class] The response model class or typed array.
-      # @return [Class] The determined response model class.
+      # @return [Class] The response model.
       def determine_model(response_model)
         if response_model.is_a?(T::Types::TypedArray)
           @iterable = true
diff --git a/spec/openai/patch_spec.rb b/spec/openai/patch_spec.rb
index e27f30d..3752746 100644
--- a/spec/openai/patch_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/openai/patch_spec.rb
@@ -188,4 +188,18 @@ def self.name
       end.to raise_error(Instructor::ValidationError)
     end
   end
+
+  describe 'when the client is used ia a standard manner' do
+    it 'does not raise an error when the client is used in a standard manner', vcr: 'patching_spec/standard_usage' do
+      response = patched_client.new.chat(
+        parameters: {
+          model: 'gpt-3.5-turbo',
+          messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'How is the weather today in New York?' }]
+        }
+      )
+
+      expect(response).to be_a(Hash)
+      expect(response.dig('choices', 0, 'message', 'content')).to be_a(String)
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/vcr_cassettes/patching_spec/standard_usage.yml b/spec/vcr_cassettes/patching_spec/standard_usage.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c91ab1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/vcr_cassettes/patching_spec/standard_usage.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+---
+http_interactions:
+- request:
+    method: post
+    uri: https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions
+    body:
+      encoding: UTF-8
+      string: '{"model":"gpt-3.5-turbo","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"How
+        is the weather today in New York?"}]}'
+    headers:
+      Content-Type:
+      - application/json
+      Authorization:
+      - Bearer <API_KEY_PLACEHOLDER>
+      Accept-Encoding:
+      - gzip;q=1.0,deflate;q=0.6,identity;q=0.3
+      Accept:
+      - "*/*"
+      User-Agent:
+      - Ruby
+  response:
+    status:
+      code: 200
+      message: OK
+    headers:
+      Date:
+      - Mon, 20 May 2024 20:18:44 GMT
+      Content-Type:
+      - application/json
+      Transfer-Encoding:
+      - chunked
+      Connection:
+      - keep-alive
+      Openai-Organization:
+      - user-jtftkqrbreteg5pmdrfzchv6
+      Openai-Processing-Ms:
+      - '1141'
+      Openai-Version:
+      - '2020-10-01'
+      Strict-Transport-Security:
+      - max-age=15724800; includeSubDomains
+      X-Ratelimit-Limit-Requests:
+      - '10000'
+      X-Ratelimit-Limit-Tokens:
+      - '60000'
+      X-Ratelimit-Remaining-Requests:
+      - '9999'
+      X-Ratelimit-Remaining-Tokens:
+      - '59973'
+      X-Ratelimit-Reset-Requests:
+      - 8.64s
+      X-Ratelimit-Reset-Tokens:
+      - 27ms
+      X-Request-Id:
+      - req_9cd156b89ffbc49d042594df684cd71c
+      Cf-Cache-Status:
+      - DYNAMIC
+      Set-Cookie:
+      - __cf_bm=iw7.dE814kHN0QINKJy3dRtjL44VSwwBZFyDHvN2pNo-1716236324-1.0.1.1-_sZi0S6Fm2fn7rSXA7NQ22IbWSrA0yBXtvFZ7BgT06q2J6upyZqiU7WDAqYfK3_DCCsi.xd2.aDu1erMGdb9dg;
+        path=/; expires=Mon, 20-May-24 20:48:44 GMT; domain=.api.openai.com; HttpOnly;
+        Secure; SameSite=None
+      - _cfuvid=l.4Wi13joGQwrPn0H.rLjBrxZJCHqY15_r5zTRua9H0-1716236324578-0.0.1.1-604800000;
+        path=/; domain=.api.openai.com; HttpOnly; Secure; SameSite=None
+      Server:
+      - cloudflare
+      Cf-Ray:
+      - 886f047cea6374ac-MIA
+      Alt-Svc:
+      - h3=":443"; ma=86400
+    body:
+      encoding: ASCII-8BIT
+      string: |
+        {
+          "id": "chatcmpl-9R3kx1j8twG05UJGM5ReVEpjUUHtL",
+          "object": "chat.completion",
+          "created": 1716236323,
+          "model": "gpt-3.5-turbo-0125",
+          "choices": [
+            {
+              "index": 0,
+              "message": {
+                "role": "assistant",
+                "content": "I'm sorry, I cannot provide real-time weather information. I recommend checking a reliable weather website or app for the most up-to-date weather conditions in New York."
+              },
+              "logprobs": null,
+              "finish_reason": "stop"
+            }
+          ],
+          "usage": {
+            "prompt_tokens": 16,
+            "completion_tokens": 33,
+            "total_tokens": 49
+          },
+          "system_fingerprint": null
+        }
+  recorded_at: Mon, 20 May 2024 20:18:44 GMT
+recorded_with: VCR 6.2.0