diff --git a/lib/Service/NoteUtil.php b/lib/Service/NoteUtil.php
index 6cb52711b..2bf85f132 100644
--- a/lib/Service/NoteUtil.php
+++ b/lib/Service/NoteUtil.php
@@ -186,7 +186,12 @@ public function getOrCreateFolder(string $path, bool $create = true) : Folder {
 	public function getNotesFolderUserPath(string $userId): ?string {
 		/** @psalm-suppress MissingDependency */
 		$userFolder = $this->getRoot()->getUserFolder($userId);
-		$nodesFolder = $this->getOrCreateNotesFolder($userId, false);
+		try {
+			$nodesFolder = $this->getOrCreateNotesFolder($userId, false);
+		} catch (NotesFolderException $e) {
+			$this->util->logger->error("Failed to get notes folder for user $userId: " . $e->getMessage());
+			return null;
+		}
 		return $userFolder->getRelativePath($nodesFolder->getPath());
 	}