diff --git a/litellm/images/main.py b/litellm/images/main.py
index 6c4c502a7b..494d741f93 100644
--- a/litellm/images/main.py
+++ b/litellm/images/main.py
@@ -469,6 +469,8 @@ def image_generation(  # noqa: PLR0915
             or custom_llm_provider == LlmProviders.LITELLM_PROXY.value
             or custom_llm_provider in litellm.openai_compatible_providers
         ):
+            if extra_headers is not None:
+                optional_params["extra_headers"] = extra_headers
             # Forward OpenAI organization if present (set by proxy pre-call utils)
             organization: Optional[str] = kwargs.get("organization", None)
             model_response = openai_chat_completions.image_generation(
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/images/test_image_generation_extra_headers.py b/tests/test_litellm/images/test_image_generation_extra_headers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1cbe5fc69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/images/test_image_generation_extra_headers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+"""
+Unit test for https://github.com/BerriAI/litellm/issues/22285
+
+Verifies that extra_headers passed to image_generation() are forwarded
+to the OpenAI SDK on the openai/litellm_proxy/openai_compatible_providers
+code paths.
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath("../../.."))
+
+import litellm
+from litellm.images.main import image_generation
+
+
+class TestImageGenerationExtraHeaders:
+    """Test that extra_headers are forwarded on the OpenAI code path."""
+
+    @patch("litellm.images.main.openai_chat_completions")
+    def test_extra_headers_forwarded_to_openai_image_generation(
+        self, mock_openai_chat_completions
+    ):
+        """
+        extra_headers passed to image_generation() should appear in
+        optional_params["extra_headers"] when the provider is openai.
+        """
+        mock_image_response = litellm.utils.ImageResponse(
+            created=1234567890,
+            data=[{"url": "https://example.com/image.png"}],
+        )
+        mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.return_value = (
+            mock_image_response
+        )
+
+        extra_headers = {"traceparent": "00-abc123-def456-01", "X-Custom": "value"}
+
+        image_generation(
+            model="openai/dall-e-3",
+            prompt="A red circle",
+            extra_headers=extra_headers,
+        )
+
+        mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.assert_called_once()
+        call_kwargs = mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.call_args
+        optional_params = call_kwargs.kwargs.get(
+            "optional_params", call_kwargs[1].get("optional_params", {})
+        )
+
+        assert "extra_headers" in optional_params
+        assert optional_params["extra_headers"] == extra_headers
+
+    @patch("litellm.images.main.openai_chat_completions")
+    def test_no_extra_headers_when_not_provided(
+        self, mock_openai_chat_completions
+    ):
+        """
+        When extra_headers is not passed, optional_params should not
+        contain extra_headers.
+        """
+        mock_image_response = litellm.utils.ImageResponse(
+            created=1234567890,
+            data=[{"url": "https://example.com/image.png"}],
+        )
+        mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.return_value = (
+            mock_image_response
+        )
+
+        image_generation(
+            model="openai/dall-e-3",
+            prompt="A red circle",
+        )
+
+        mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.assert_called_once()
+        call_kwargs = mock_openai_chat_completions.image_generation.call_args
+        optional_params = call_kwargs.kwargs.get(
+            "optional_params", call_kwargs[1].get("optional_params", {})
+        )
+
+        assert "extra_headers" not in optional_params