diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/redact_messages.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/redact_messages.py
index aa763dc9899..5d6d1fbc1c5 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/redact_messages.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/redact_messages.py
@@ -140,9 +140,14 @@ def should_redact_message_logging(model_call_details: dict) -> bool:
     
     metadata_field = get_metadata_variable_name_from_kwargs(litellm_params)
     metadata = litellm_params.get(metadata_field, {})
-    
+    if not isinstance(metadata, dict):
+        # Fall back: litellm_metadata was None, try metadata
+        metadata = litellm_params.get("metadata", {})
+    if not isinstance(metadata, dict):
+        metadata = {}
+
     # Get headers from the metadata
-    request_headers = metadata.get("headers", {}) if isinstance(metadata, dict) else {}
+    request_headers = metadata.get("headers", {})
 
     # Check for headers that explicitly control redaction
     if request_headers and bool(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_redact_messages.py b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_redact_messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d7df7823aee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_redact_messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""
+Tests for litellm.litellm_core_utils.redact_messages.should_redact_message_logging
+
+Covers the proxy flow where headers arrive in litellm_params["metadata"]["headers"]
+but litellm_params["litellm_metadata"] is None.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+import litellm
+from litellm.litellm_core_utils.redact_messages import should_redact_message_logging
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _reset_global_redaction():
+    """Ensure the global setting is off for every test."""
+    original = litellm.turn_off_message_logging
+    litellm.turn_off_message_logging = False
+    yield
+    litellm.turn_off_message_logging = original
+
+
+def _make_model_call_details(
+    metadata_headers=None,
+    litellm_metadata=None,
+    metadata=None,
+    standard_callback_dynamic_params=None,
+):
+    """Build a model_call_details dict that mimics real proxy/SDK flows."""
+    litellm_params = {}
+    if metadata is not None:
+        litellm_params["metadata"] = metadata
+    elif metadata_headers is not None:
+        litellm_params["metadata"] = {"headers": metadata_headers}
+    else:
+        litellm_params["metadata"] = {}
+
+    # get_litellm_params always sets this key (even when value is None)
+    litellm_params["litellm_metadata"] = litellm_metadata
+
+    details = {"litellm_params": litellm_params}
+    if standard_callback_dynamic_params is not None:
+        details["standard_callback_dynamic_params"] = standard_callback_dynamic_params
+    return details
+
+
+class TestShouldRedactMessageLogging:
+    """Unit tests for should_redact_message_logging()."""
+
+    # ---- proxy flow: headers in metadata, litellm_metadata is None ----
+
+    def test_enable_redaction_via_x_header_proxy_flow(self):
+        """x-litellm-enable-message-redaction header should enable redaction
+        even when litellm_metadata is None (proxy path)."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers={"x-litellm-enable-message-redaction": "true"},
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True
+
+    def test_enable_redaction_via_old_header_proxy_flow(self):
+        """litellm-enable-message-redaction header should enable redaction
+        even when litellm_metadata is None (proxy path)."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers={"litellm-enable-message-redaction": "true"},
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True
+
+    def test_disable_redaction_via_header_proxy_flow(self):
+        """litellm-disable-message-redaction should suppress redaction
+        even when global setting is on, and litellm_metadata is None."""
+        litellm.turn_off_message_logging = True
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers={"litellm-disable-message-redaction": "true"},
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is False
+
+    # ---- SDK direct-call flow: headers in litellm_metadata ----
+
+    def test_enable_redaction_via_header_in_litellm_metadata(self):
+        """Headers inside litellm_metadata (SDK direct call) should work."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            litellm_metadata={"headers": {"x-litellm-enable-message-redaction": "true"}},
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True
+
+    # ---- no headers at all ----
+
+    def test_no_headers_defaults_to_global_off(self):
+        """Without headers, falls back to global setting (False)."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers=None,
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is False
+
+    def test_no_headers_global_on(self):
+        """Without headers, respects global turn_off_message_logging=True."""
+        litellm.turn_off_message_logging = True
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers=None,
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True
+
+    # ---- dynamic params take precedence ----
+
+    def test_dynamic_param_enables_redaction(self):
+        """Dynamic turn_off_message_logging=True should enable redaction."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers={},
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+            standard_callback_dynamic_params={"turn_off_message_logging": True},
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True
+
+    def test_dynamic_param_false_overrides_header(self):
+        """Dynamic turn_off_message_logging=False should take precedence over enable header."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata_headers={"x-litellm-enable-message-redaction": "true"},
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+            standard_callback_dynamic_params={"turn_off_message_logging": False},
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is False
+
+    # ---- non-dict metadata safety ----
+
+    def test_both_metadata_fields_none(self):
+        """When both litellm_metadata and metadata are None, should not raise."""
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata=None,
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is False
+
+    def test_both_metadata_fields_none_global_on(self):
+        """When both metadata fields are None but global is on, should still return True."""
+        litellm.turn_off_message_logging = True
+        details = _make_model_call_details(
+            metadata=None,
+            litellm_metadata=None,
+        )
+        assert should_redact_message_logging(details) is True