diff --git a/spring-webflux/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/function/client/DefaultWebClient.java b/spring-webflux/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/function/client/DefaultWebClient.java
index 1a339b4f26..177d43c9cd 100644
--- a/spring-webflux/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/function/client/DefaultWebClient.java
+++ b/spring-webflux/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/function/client/DefaultWebClient.java
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class DefaultWebClient implements WebClient {
 
 				@Override
 				public HttpHeaders getHeaders() {
-					return headers;
+					return this.headers;
 				}
 			};
 		}