diff --git a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/_merge.py b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/_merge.py
index 42cdde85493..d058b8041aa 100644
--- a/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/_merge.py
+++ b/libs/core/langchain_core/utils/_merge.py
@@ -41,6 +41,19 @@ def merge_dicts(left: Dict[str, Any], *others: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]
                     " but with a different type."
                 )
             elif isinstance(merged[right_k], str):
+                # TODO: Add below special handling for 'type' key in 0.3 and remove
+                # merge_lists 'type' logic.
+                #
+                # if right_k == "type":
+                #     if merged[right_k] == right_v:
+                #         continue
+                #     else:
+                #         raise ValueError(
+                #             "Unable to merge. Two different values seen for special "
+                #             f"key 'type': {merged[right_k]} and {right_v}. 'type' "
+                #             "should either occur once or have the same value across "
+                #             "all dicts."
+                #         )
                 merged[right_k] += right_v
             elif isinstance(merged[right_k], dict):
                 merged[right_k] = merge_dicts(merged[right_k], right_v)
@@ -81,10 +94,10 @@ def merge_lists(left: Optional[List], *others: Optional[List]) -> Optional[List]
                         if e_left["index"] == e["index"]
                     ]
                     if to_merge:
-                        # If a top-level "type" has been set for a chunk, it should no
-                        # longer be overridden by the "type" field in future chunks.
-                        if "type" in merged[to_merge[0]] and "type" in e:
-                            e.pop("type")
+                        # TODO: Remove this once merge_dict is updated with special
+                        # handling for 'type'.
+                        if "type" in e:
+                            e = {k: v for k, v in e.items() if k != "type"}
                         merged[to_merge[0]] = merge_dicts(merged[to_merge[0]], e)
                     else:
                         merged.append(e)
diff --git a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
index 7905bfb62dc..419e6309fd9 100644
--- a/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
+++ b/libs/core/tests/unit_tests/utils/test_utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import re
 from contextlib import AbstractContextManager, nullcontext
+from copy import deepcopy
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
@@ -120,9 +121,45 @@ def test_merge_dicts(
     else:
         err = nullcontext()
 
+    left_copy = deepcopy(left)
+    right_copy = deepcopy(right)
     with err:
         actual = merge_dicts(left, right)
         assert actual == expected
+        # no mutation
+        assert left == left_copy
+        assert right == right_copy
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("left", "right", "expected"),
+    (
+        # 'type' special key handling
+        ({"type": "foo"}, {"type": "foo"}, {"type": "foo"}),
+        (
+            {"type": "foo"},
+            {"type": "bar"},
+            pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Unable to merge."),
+        ),
+    ),
+)
+@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="Refactors to make in 0.3")
+def test_merge_dicts_0_3(
+    left: dict, right: dict, expected: Union[dict, AbstractContextManager]
+) -> None:
+    if isinstance(expected, AbstractContextManager):
+        err = expected
+    else:
+        err = nullcontext()
+
+    left_copy = deepcopy(left)
+    right_copy = deepcopy(right)
+    with err:
+        actual = merge_dicts(left, right)
+        assert actual == expected
+        # no mutation
+        assert left == left_copy
+        assert right == right_copy
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(