diff --git a/litellm/exceptions.py b/litellm/exceptions.py
index 77fb9c1faefd..d1b361c27404 100644
--- a/litellm/exceptions.py
+++ b/litellm/exceptions.py
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.litellm_debug_info = litellm_debug_info
         self.max_retries = max_retries
         self.num_retries = num_retries
-        self.response = httpx.Response(
+        self.response = response or httpx.Response(
             status_code=self.status_code,
             request=httpx.Request(
                 method="POST",