diff --git a/frappe/rate_limiter.py b/frappe/rate_limiter.py
index dc5b43def4..fb26128723 100644
--- a/frappe/rate_limiter.py
+++ b/frappe/rate_limiter.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def rate_limit(
 
 			ip = frappe.local.request_ip if ip_based is True else None
 
-			user_key = frappe.form_dict.get(key)
+			user_key = frappe.form_dict.get(key, "")
 
 			identity = None