diff --git a/modules/cache/mod_cache.c b/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
index c106aedba1..abee1e3663 100644
--- a/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
+++ b/modules/cache/mod_cache.c
@@ -604,9 +604,12 @@ static apr_status_t cache_out_filter(ap_filter_t *f, apr_bucket_brigade *in)
             apr_bucket_brigade *bb = apr_brigade_create(r->pool,
                     r->connection->bucket_alloc);
 
-            /* restore content type of cached response */
-            ap_set_content_type(r, apr_table_get(cache->handle->resp_hdrs,
-                                                 "Content-Type"));
+            /* restore content type of cached response if available */
+            /* Needed especially when stale content gets served. */
+            const char *ct = apr_table_get(cache->handle->resp_hdrs, "Content-Type");
+            if (ct) {
+                ap_set_content_type(r, ct);
+            }
 
             /* restore status of cached response */
             r->status = cache->handle->cache_obj->info.status;