diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_configs/custom_auth.py b/litellm/tests/test_configs/custom_auth.py
index 1b6bec43b5e..2939aa9f95f 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_configs/custom_auth.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_configs/custom_auth.py
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ load_dotenv()
 
 async def user_api_key_auth(request: Request, api_key: str) -> UserAPIKeyAuth:
     try:
+        from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import MISSING_BEARER
+
         print(f"api_key: {api_key}")
-        if api_key == "":
+        if api_key == MISSING_BEARER:
             raise Exception(
                 f"CustomAuth - Malformed API Key passed in. Ensure Key has `Bearer` prefix"
             )