diff --git a/openapi-security/src/main/java/com/networknt/openapi/UnifiedSecurityHandler.java b/openapi-security/src/main/java/com/networknt/openapi/UnifiedSecurityHandler.java
index 2b19e636..c44ae5e6 100644
--- a/openapi-security/src/main/java/com/networknt/openapi/UnifiedSecurityHandler.java
+++ b/openapi-security/src/main/java/com/networknt/openapi/UnifiedSecurityHandler.java
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ public void handleRequest(HttpServerExchange exchange) throws Exception {
                             if(logger.isDebugEnabled())
                                 logger.debug("UnifiedSecurityHandler.handleRequest ends with an error.");
                             exchange.endExchange();
+                            return;
                         } else {
                             // make sure that the length is greater than 5.
                             if(authorization.trim().length() <= 5) {