diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/LinkedCaseInsensitiveMap.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/LinkedCaseInsensitiveMap.java
index 3a1f9f102946..60d82f270809 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/LinkedCaseInsensitiveMap.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/LinkedCaseInsensitiveMap.java
@@ -181,7 +181,9 @@ public V getOrDefault(Object key, V defaultValue) {
 		if (key instanceof String string) {
 			String caseInsensitiveKey = this.caseInsensitiveKeys.get(convertKey(string));
 			if (caseInsensitiveKey != null) {
-				return this.targetMap.get(caseInsensitiveKey);
+				V v = this.targetMap.get(caseInsensitiveKey);
+				if (v != null)
+					return v;
 			}
 		}
 		return defaultValue;