diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index 4f50a3c52c..48bf043e90 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ async def completion(request: Request, model: Optional[str] = None, user_api_key
 @router.post("/v1/chat/completions", dependencies=[Depends(user_api_key_auth)], tags=["chat/completions"])
 @router.post("/chat/completions", dependencies=[Depends(user_api_key_auth)], tags=["chat/completions"])
 @router.post("/openai/deployments/{model:path}/chat/completions", dependencies=[Depends(user_api_key_auth)], tags=["chat/completions"]) # azure compatible endpoint
-async def chat_completion(request: Request, model: Optional[str] = None, user_api_key_dict: dict = Depends(user_api_key_auth), background_tasks: BackgroundTasks = None):
+async def chat_completion(request: Request, model: Optional[str] = None, user_api_key_dict: dict = Depends(user_api_key_auth), background_tasks: BackgroundTasks = BackgroundTasks()):
     global general_settings, user_debug
     try: 
         data = {}