diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/master_key_policy.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/master_key_policy.py
index 123ff9c972d..0d4bb0bde4b 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/master_key_policy.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/master_key_policy.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from collections.abc import Mapping, Sequence
 from typing import Final, Literal
 
+from fastapi import Request
 from pydantic import TypeAdapter
 from typing_extensions import ReadOnly, TypedDict, assert_never
 
@@ -115,6 +116,14 @@ def stored_credentials_present() -> bool:
     return any((d.get("model_info") or {}).get("db_model") is True for d in deployments)
 
 
+def request_http_method(request: Request) -> str:
+    try:
+        method: Final = request.method
+    except (KeyError, AttributeError):
+        return ""
+    return method if isinstance(method, str) else ""
+
+
 def master_key_lockout_action(
     route: str,
     method: str,
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
index 1d561af4fa9..c191a474718 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.auth.master_key_policy import (
     insecure_master_key_reason,
     master_key_lockout_action,
     master_key_lockout_exception,
+    request_http_method,
     stored_credentials_present,
 )
 from litellm.proxy.auth.network import TrustedProxyConfig, resolve_network_context
@@ -1362,15 +1363,11 @@ async def _user_api_key_auth_builder(
         _lockout_reason: Final = insecure_master_key_reason(
             master_key, alternative_auth_enabled=alternative_auth_enabled(general_settings)
         )
-        try:
-            _request_method: Final = request.method
-        except (KeyError, AttributeError):
-            _request_method = ""
         if (
             _lockout_reason is not None
             and master_key_lockout_action(
                 route=route,
-                method=_request_method if isinstance(_request_method, str) else "",
+                method=request_http_method(request),
                 reason=_lockout_reason,
                 stored_credentials_present=stored_credentials_present(),
             )