diff --git a/src/documents/checks.py b/src/documents/checks.py
index 2f7ebd89e..37386f37c 100644
--- a/src/documents/checks.py
+++ b/src/documents/checks.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.checks import Warning, register
 from django.db.utils import OperationalError
 
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@ def changed_password_check(app_configs, **kwargs):
     from documents.models import Document
     from paperless.db import GnuPG
 
+    if not settings.PASSPHRASE:
+        return []
+
     warning = (
         "At least one document:\n\n  {}\n\nin your data store was encrypted "
         "with a password other than the one currently\nin use.  This means "