diff --git a/core/admin/mailu/internal/views/auth.py b/core/admin/mailu/internal/views/auth.py
index 0ed967ba..1ea2828a 100644
--- a/core/admin/mailu/internal/views/auth.py
+++ b/core/admin/mailu/internal/views/auth.py
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ def nginx_authentication():
                 response.headers['Auth-Wait'] = '3'
             return response
         is_valid_user = True
-    if ("Auth-Status" not in headers) or (headers["Auth-Status"] != "OK"):
+    if headers.get('Auth-Status') != 'OK':
         utils.limiter.rate_limit_user(username, client_ip) if is_valid_user else rate_limit_ip(client_ip)
-    elif ("Auth-Status" in headers) and (headers["Auth-Status"] == "OK"):
+    elif headers["Auth-Status"] == "OK":
         utils.limiter.exempt_ip_from_ratelimits(client_ip)
     return response