diff --git a/lib/private/Repair/NC21/ValidatePhoneNumber.php b/lib/private/Repair/NC21/ValidatePhoneNumber.php
index 3217a1f082c..964d62ad0ab 100644
--- a/lib/private/Repair/NC21/ValidatePhoneNumber.php
+++ b/lib/private/Repair/NC21/ValidatePhoneNumber.php
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ class ValidatePhoneNumber implements IRepairStep {
 
 	public function run(IOutput $output): void {
 		if ($this->config->getSystemValueString('default_phone_region', '') === '') {
-			throw new \Exception('Can not validate phone numbers without `default_phone_region` being set in the config file');
+			$output->warning('Can not validate phone numbers without `default_phone_region` being set in the config file');
+			return;
 		}
 
 		$numUpdated = 0;