diff --git a/src/instana/propagators/base_propagator.py b/src/instana/propagators/base_propagator.py
index 4f6b95dd..7778b8f7 100644
--- a/src/instana/propagators/base_propagator.py
+++ b/src/instana/propagators/base_propagator.py
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ def extract_headers_dict(carrier: CarrierT) -> Optional[Dict]:
                 dc = carrier
             elif hasattr(carrier, "__dict__"):
                 dc = carrier.__dict__
+                if not dc:
+                    dc = dict(carrier)
             else:
                 dc = dict(carrier)
         except Exception: