diff --git a/tests/v1/kv_connector/unit/offloading_connector/utils.py b/tests/v1/kv_connector/unit/offloading_connector/utils.py
index 89f05f1053..ec5ffef935 100644
--- a/tests/v1/kv_connector/unit/offloading_connector/utils.py
+++ b/tests/v1/kv_connector/unit/offloading_connector/utils.py
@@ -459,9 +459,6 @@ class RequestRunner:
             self.worker_connector.bind_connector_metadata(kv_connector_metadata)
             self.worker_connector.start_load_kv(self._dummy_ctx)
 
-            if scheduler_output.total_num_scheduled_tokens > 0:
-                self.worker_connector.wait_for_save()
-
             if complete_transfers:
                 self.offloading_spec.complete_transfers()
 
diff --git a/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/offloading_connector.py b/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/offloading_connector.py
index daa8042c8b..48dd61b50b 100644
--- a/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/offloading_connector.py
+++ b/vllm/distributed/kv_transfer/kv_connector/v1/offloading_connector.py
@@ -104,12 +104,19 @@ class OffloadingConnector(KVConnectorBase_V1, SupportsHMA):
         pass
 
     def wait_for_save(self):
-        assert self.connector_worker is not None
-        assert isinstance(self._connector_metadata, OffloadingConnectorMetadata)
-        self.connector_worker.prepare_store_kv(self._connector_metadata)
+        # Store deferral is handled in get_finished(), which always runs even
+        # when wait_for_save() is skipped (e.g. kv_connector_no_forward).
+        pass
 
     def get_finished(self, finished_req_ids: set[str]) -> tuple[set[str], set[str]]:
         assert self.connector_worker is not None
+        assert isinstance(self._connector_metadata, OffloadingConnectorMetadata)
+
+        # Defer store jobs to the next step's start_kv_transfers. Done here
+        # (rather than wait_for_save) so stores are queued even on steps where
+        # wait_for_save is skipped.
+        self.connector_worker.prepare_store_kv(self._connector_metadata)
+
         return self.connector_worker.get_finished(finished_req_ids)
 
     def build_connector_worker_meta(self) -> OffloadingWorkerMetadata | None: