diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
index 6561bff22..90c4134a4 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ in your Node-RED user directory (${RED.settings.userDir}).
             }
             return getProxyForUrl(url, proxyOptions)
         }
-        let prox = getProxy(nodeUrl || '')
+        let prox = nodeUrl ? getProxy(nodeUrl) : null
 
         let timingLog = false;
         if (RED.settings.hasOwnProperty("httpRequestTimingLog")) {