diff --git a/router/core/header_rule_engine.go b/router/core/header_rule_engine.go
index bd7635a65d..60f98207b0 100644
--- a/router/core/header_rule_engine.go
+++ b/router/core/header_rule_engine.go
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ func WithResponseHeaderPropagation(ctx *resolve.Context) *resolve.Context {
 }
 
 func getResponseHeaderPropagation(ctx context.Context) *responseHeaderPropagation {
+	if ctx == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	v := ctx.Value(responseHeaderPropagationKey{})
 	if v == nil {
 		return nil
diff --git a/router/core/header_rule_engine_test.go b/router/core/header_rule_engine_test.go
index 6a8f2711f5..7f00105c1c 100644
--- a/router/core/header_rule_engine_test.go
+++ b/router/core/header_rule_engine_test.go
@@ -336,6 +336,16 @@ func TestPropagatedHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestGetResponseHeaderPropagation_NilContext(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Ensure nil context does not panic (regression test for #2530)
+	assert.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		result := getResponseHeaderPropagation(nil)
+		assert.Nil(t, result)
+	})
+}
+
 func TestNewHeaderPropagation(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()