diff --git a/jetty-websocket/websocket-core-server/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/core/server/ServerUpgradeRequest.java b/jetty-websocket/websocket-core-server/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/core/server/ServerUpgradeRequest.java
index d51258e52e6a..33dece4b8aa9 100644
--- a/jetty-websocket/websocket-core-server/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/core/server/ServerUpgradeRequest.java
+++ b/jetty-websocket/websocket-core-server/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/websocket/core/server/ServerUpgradeRequest.java
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ public List<HttpCookie> getCookies()
                     .map(c -> new HttpCookie(c.getName(), c.getValue()))
                     .collect(Collectors.toList());
             }
+            else
+            {
+                cookies = List.of();
+            }
         }
 
         return cookies;