diff --git a/lib/datadog/appsec/response.rb b/lib/datadog/appsec/response.rb
index 7acccf31895..8d63fd88622 100644
--- a/lib/datadog/appsec/response.rb
+++ b/lib/datadog/appsec/response.rb
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def block_response(env, options)
           body << content(content_type)
 
           Response.new(
-            status: options.fetch('status_code', 403).to_i,
+            status: options['status_code']&.to_i || 403,
             headers: { 'Content-Type' => content_type },
             body: body,
           )