diff --git a/api/lib/opentelemetry/baggage/propagation/text_map_propagator.rb b/api/lib/opentelemetry/baggage/propagation/text_map_propagator.rb
index c2c66aa47..ad28275f1 100644
--- a/api/lib/opentelemetry/baggage/propagation/text_map_propagator.rb
+++ b/api/lib/opentelemetry/baggage/propagation/text_map_propagator.rb
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def inject(carrier, context: Context.current, setter: Context::Propagation.text_
         #   if extraction fails
         def extract(carrier, context: Context.current, getter: Context::Propagation.text_map_getter)
           header = getter.get(carrier, BAGGAGE_KEY)
+          return context unless header
 
           entries = header.gsub(/\s/, '').split(',')