diff --git a/src/Horse.BasicAuthentication.pas b/src/Horse.BasicAuthentication.pas
index 2b19e86..119f7fc 100644
--- a/src/Horse.BasicAuthentication.pas
+++ b/src/Horse.BasicAuthentication.pas
@@ -85,9 +85,7 @@ procedure Middleware(Req: THorseRequest; Res: THorseResponse; Next: {$IF DEFINED
     Exit;
   end;
 
-  LBasicAuthenticationEncode := '';
-  if Req.Headers.ContainsKey(Config.Header) then
-    LBasicAuthenticationEncode := Req.Headers.Items[Config.Header];
+  LBasicAuthenticationEncode := Req.Headers[Config.Header];
 
   if LBasicAuthenticationEncode.Trim.IsEmpty and not Req.Query.TryGetValue(Config.Header, LBasicAuthenticationEncode) then
   begin
@@ -188,4 +186,4 @@ function THorseBasicAuthenticationConfig.SkipRoutes: TArray<string>;
   Result := FSkipRoutes;
 end;
 
-end.
+end.
\ No newline at end of file