diff --git a/src/openai/_client.py b/src/openai/_client.py
index 8b404e234d..4cfd2c09b2 100644
--- a/src/openai/_client.py
+++ b/src/openai/_client.py
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@ def qs(self) -> Querystring:
     @override
     def auth_headers(self) -> dict[str, str]:
         api_key = self.api_key
-        return {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+        headers = {} if api_key == "" else {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+        return headers
 
     @property
     @override
@@ -371,7 +372,8 @@ def qs(self) -> Querystring:
     @override
     def auth_headers(self) -> dict[str, str]:
         api_key = self.api_key
-        return {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+        headers = {} if api_key == "" else {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"}
+        return headers
 
     @property
     @override