diff --git a/docs/changelog/126264.yaml b/docs/changelog/126264.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e2c4c6e4a869
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/126264.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 126264
+summary: '`FileWatchingService` shoudld not throw for missing file'
+area: Infra/Settings
+type: enhancement
+issues: []
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/file/AbstractFileWatchingService.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/file/AbstractFileWatchingService.java
index b731c210f37d..c9993f12b63b 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/file/AbstractFileWatchingService.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/file/AbstractFileWatchingService.java
@@ -116,15 +116,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractFileWatchingService extends AbstractLifecycleCompo
     }
 
     private FileUpdateState readFileUpdateState(Path path) throws IOException {
-        BasicFileAttributes attr;
         try {
-            attr = filesReadAttributes(path, BasicFileAttributes.class);
+            BasicFileAttributes attr = filesReadAttributes(path, BasicFileAttributes.class);
+            return new FileUpdateState(attr.lastModifiedTime().toMillis(), path.toRealPath().toString(), attr.fileKey());
         } catch (NoSuchFileException e) {
             // file doesn't exist anymore
             return null;
         }
-
-        return new FileUpdateState(attr.lastModifiedTime().toMillis(), path.toRealPath().toString(), attr.fileKey());
     }
 
     // platform independent way to tell if a file changed