diff --git a/lib/rspec_api_documentation/example.rb b/lib/rspec_api_documentation/example.rb
index ba8f0ad7..c66136bb 100644
--- a/lib/rspec_api_documentation/example.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec_api_documentation/example.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def explanation
     end
 
     def requests
-      filter_headers(metadata[:requests]) || []
+      filter_headers(metadata.fetch(:requests, []))
     end
 
     private