diff --git a/topdown/http.go b/topdown/http.go
index 0b5c16870a7..92570444f76 100644
--- a/topdown/http.go
+++ b/topdown/http.go
@@ -841,7 +841,11 @@ func (c *interQueryCache) checkHTTPSendInterQueryCache() (ast.Value, error) {
 
 	headers, err := parseResponseHeaders(cachedRespData.Headers)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		if forceCaching(c.forceCacheParams) {
+			headers = &responseHeaders{}
+		} else {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// check with the server if the stale response is still up-to-date.
@@ -864,11 +868,16 @@ func (c *interQueryCache) checkHTTPSendInterQueryCache() (ast.Value, error) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		expiresAt, err := expiryFromHeaders(result.Header)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		if forceCaching(c.forceCacheParams) {
+			createdAt := getCurrentTime(c.bctx)
+			cachedRespData.ExpiresAt = createdAt.Add(time.Second * time.Duration(c.forceCacheParams.forceCacheDurationSeconds))
+		} else {
+			expiresAt, err := expiryFromHeaders(result.Header)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			cachedRespData.ExpiresAt = expiresAt
 		}
-		cachedRespData.ExpiresAt = expiresAt
 
 		cachingMode, err := getCachingMode(c.key)
 		if err != nil {