diff --git a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorNettyClientRequest.java b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorNettyClientRequest.java
index b60f37c98e..5f964dbb12 100644
--- a/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorNettyClientRequest.java
+++ b/spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/http/client/ReactorNettyClientRequest.java
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ final class ReactorNettyClientRequest extends AbstractStreamingClientHttpRequest
 				return ioEx;
 			}
 		}
-		return new IOException(ex.getMessage(), cause);
+		return new IOException(ex.getMessage(), (cause != null ? cause : ex));
 	}