diff --git a/scalar.c b/scalar.c
index f25d5f1d0e..ca19b95ce4 100644
--- a/scalar.c
+++ b/scalar.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ static int register_dir(void)
 		return error(_("could not set recommended config"));
 
 	if (toggle_maintenance(1))
-		return error(_("could not turn on maintenance"));
+		warning(_("could not turn on maintenance"));
 
 	if (have_fsmonitor_support() && start_fsmonitor_daemon()) {
 		return error(_("could not start the FSMonitor daemon"));
diff --git a/t/t9210-scalar.sh b/t/t9210-scalar.sh
index 13a4f6dbcf..4432a30d10 100755
--- a/t/t9210-scalar.sh
+++ b/t/t9210-scalar.sh
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ test_expect_success FSMONITOR_DAEMON 'scalar register starts fsmon daemon' '
 	test_cmp_config -C test/src true core.fsmonitor
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'scalar register fails when background maintenance fails' '
+test_expect_success 'scalar register warns when background maintenance fails' '
 	git init register-repo &&
 	GIT_TEST_MAINT_SCHEDULER="crontab:false,launchctl:false,schtasks:false" \
-		test_must_fail scalar register register-repo 2>err &&
+		scalar register register-repo 2>err &&
 	grep "could not turn on maintenance" err
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t9211-scalar-clone.sh b/t/t9211-scalar-clone.sh
index a6156da29a..872ad1c9c2 100755
--- a/t/t9211-scalar-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t9211-scalar-clone.sh
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ test_expect_success 'progress without tty' '
 	cleanup_clone $enlistment
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'scalar clone fails when background maintenance fails' '
+test_expect_success 'scalar clone warns when background maintenance fails' '
 	GIT_TEST_MAINT_SCHEDULER="crontab:false,launchctl:false,schtasks:false" \
-		test_must_fail scalar clone "file://$(pwd)/to-clone" maint-fail 2>err &&
+		scalar clone "file://$(pwd)/to-clone" maint-fail 2>err &&
 	grep "could not turn on maintenance" err
 '