diff --git a/netbox/extras/dashboard/widgets.py b/netbox/extras/dashboard/widgets.py
index 54e6f5602..c04f8f423 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/dashboard/widgets.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/dashboard/widgets.py
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class RSSFeedWidget(DashboardWidget):
             response = requests.get(
                 url=self.config['feed_url'],
                 headers={'User-Agent': f'NetBox/{settings.RELEASE.version}'},
-                proxies=resolve_proxies(url=self.config['feed_url']),
+                proxies=resolve_proxies(url=self.config['feed_url'], context={'client': self}),
                 timeout=3
             )
             response.raise_for_status()
diff --git a/netbox/extras/webhooks.py b/netbox/extras/webhooks.py
index 7b1b7a55a..368075217 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/webhooks.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/webhooks.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def send_webhook(event_rule, model_name, event_type, data, timestamp, username,
         session.verify = webhook.ssl_verification
         if webhook.ca_file_path:
             session.verify = webhook.ca_file_path
-        proxies = resolve_proxies(url=url, context={'webhook': webhook})
+        proxies = resolve_proxies(url=url, context={'client': webhook})
         response = session.send(prepared_request, proxies=proxies)
 
     if 200 <= response.status_code <= 299:
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/settings.py b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
index 748a1edf2..0ad46b21e 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/settings.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS = getattr(configuration, 'EXEMPT_VIEW_PERMISSIONS', [])
 FIELD_CHOICES = getattr(configuration, 'FIELD_CHOICES', {})
 FILE_UPLOAD_MAX_MEMORY_SIZE = getattr(configuration, 'FILE_UPLOAD_MAX_MEMORY_SIZE', 2621440)
 GRAPHQL_MAX_ALIASES = getattr(configuration, 'GRAPHQL_MAX_ALIASES', 10)
-HTTP_PROXIES = getattr(configuration, 'HTTP_PROXIES', None)
+HTTP_PROXIES = getattr(configuration, 'HTTP_PROXIES', {})
 INTERNAL_IPS = getattr(configuration, 'INTERNAL_IPS', ('127.0.0.1', '::1'))
 ISOLATED_DEPLOYMENT = getattr(configuration, 'ISOLATED_DEPLOYMENT', False)
 JINJA2_FILTERS = getattr(configuration, 'JINJA2_FILTERS', {})
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ for path in PROXY_ROUTERS:
         try:
             import_string(path)
         except ImportError:
-            raise ImproperlyConfigured(f"Invalid proxy router path: {path}")
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured(f"Invalid path in PROXY_ROUTERS: {path}")
 
 
 #
diff --git a/netbox/utilities/proxy.py b/netbox/utilities/proxy.py
index 85e942a65..8c9e3d196 100644
--- a/netbox/utilities/proxy.py
+++ b/netbox/utilities/proxy.py
@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@ class DefaultProxyRouter:
         return urlparse(url).scheme
 
     def route(self, url=None, protocol=None, context=None):
+        """
+        Returns the appropriate proxy given a URL or protocol. Arbitrary context data may also be passed where
+        available.
+
+        Args:
+            url: The specific request URL for which the proxy will be used (if known)
+            protocol: The protocol in use (e.g. http or https) (if known)
+            context: Additional context to aid in proxy selection. May include e.g. the requesting client.
+        """
         if url and protocol is None:
             protocol = self._get_protocol_from_url(url)
         if protocol and protocol in settings.HTTP_PROXIES:
@@ -42,5 +51,5 @@ def resolve_proxies(url=None, protocol=None, context=None):
 
     for item in settings.PROXY_ROUTERS:
         router = import_string(item) if type(item) is str else item
-        if proxies := router.route(url=url, protocol=protocol, context=context):
+        if proxies := router().route(url=url, protocol=protocol, context=context):
             return proxies