diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/llms/openai/responses/test_openai_responses_guardrail_handler.py b/tests/test_litellm/llms/openai/responses/test_openai_responses_guardrail_handler.py
index 0fce0fde74b..48effa2ccac 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/llms/openai/responses/test_openai_responses_guardrail_handler.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/llms/openai/responses/test_openai_responses_guardrail_handler.py
@@ -1245,8 +1245,10 @@ class ToolDroppingGuardrail(CustomGuardrail):
         input_type: Literal["request", "response"],
         logging_obj: Optional[Any] = None,
     ) -> GenericGuardrailAPIInputs:
-        inputs["tools"] = [t for t in inputs.get("tools") or [] if t["function"]["name"] != self.drop]
-        return inputs
+        return {
+            **inputs,
+            "tools": [t for t in inputs.get("tools") or [] if t["function"]["name"] != self.drop],
+        }
 
 
 CODEX_NAMESPACE_TOOL = {