diff --git a/litellm_server/main.py b/litellm_server/main.py
index 7bbe408d7..fd49e6870 100644
--- a/litellm_server/main.py
+++ b/litellm_server/main.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ async def chat_completion(request: Request, model: Optional[str] = None):
         env_validation = litellm.validate_environment(model=data["model"])
         if (env_validation['keys_in_environment'] is False or os.getenv("AUTH_STRATEGY", None) == "DYNAMIC") and "authorization" in request.headers: # if users pass LLM api keys as part of header
             api_key = request.headers.get("authorization")
-            api_key = api_key.replace("Bearer", "").strip() 
+            api_key = api_key.split(" ")[1]
             if len(api_key) > 0:
                 api_key = api_key
                 data["api_key"] = api_key