diff --git a/checks/branch_protection_test.go b/checks/branch_protection_test.go
index d0c6f087fcd..d56a4cce2bd 100644
--- a/checks/branch_protection_test.go
+++ b/checks/branch_protection_test.go
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func TestReleaseAndDevBranchProtected(t *testing.T) {
 				Error:         nil,
 				Score:         4,
 				NumberOfWarn:  9,
-				NumberOfInfo:  11,
+				NumberOfInfo:  12,
 				NumberOfDebug: 0,
 			},
 			defaultBranch: main,
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ func TestReleaseAndDevBranchProtected(t *testing.T) {
 				Error:         nil,
 				Score:         8,
 				NumberOfWarn:  4,
-				NumberOfInfo:  16,
+				NumberOfInfo:  18,
 				NumberOfDebug: 0,
 			},
 			defaultBranch: main,
diff --git a/checks/evaluation/branch_protection.go b/checks/evaluation/branch_protection.go
index 97a0b509bfe..ab221246b33 100644
--- a/checks/evaluation/branch_protection.go
+++ b/checks/evaluation/branch_protection.go
@@ -454,7 +454,11 @@ func codeownerBranchProtection(f *finding.Finding, doLogging bool, dl checker.De
 	var score, max int
 	if f.Outcome == finding.OutcomePositive {
 		info(dl, doLogging, f.Message)
-		score++
+		if f.Values["CodeownersFiles"] == 0 {
+			warn(dl, doLogging, "codeowners branch protection is being ignored - but no codeowners file found in repo")
+		} else {
+			score++
+		}
 	} else {
 		warn(dl, doLogging, f.Message)
 	}
diff --git a/checks/evaluation/branch_protection_test.go b/checks/evaluation/branch_protection_test.go
index f2dfbf201f2..98a211f3e0b 100644
--- a/checks/evaluation/branch_protection_test.go
+++ b/checks/evaluation/branch_protection_test.go
@@ -521,7 +521,8 @@ func TestBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 					Probe:   "requiresCodeOwnersReview",
 					Outcome: finding.OutcomePositive,
 					Values: map[string]int{
-						"main": 1,
+						"main":            1,
+						"CodeownersFiles": 2,
 					},
 				},
 				{
@@ -1227,7 +1228,8 @@ func TestBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 					Probe:   "requiresCodeOwnersReview",
 					Outcome: finding.OutcomePositive,
 					Values: map[string]int{
-						"main": 1,
+						"main":            1,
+						"CodeownersFiles": 2,
 					},
 				},
 				{
@@ -1315,7 +1317,8 @@ func TestBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 					Probe:   "requiresCodeOwnersReview",
 					Outcome: finding.OutcomePositive,
 					Values: map[string]int{
-						"main": 1,
+						"main":            1,
+						"CodeownersFiles": 2,
 					},
 				},
 				{
@@ -1403,7 +1406,8 @@ func TestBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 					Probe:   "requiresCodeOwnersReview",
 					Outcome: finding.OutcomePositive,
 					Values: map[string]int{
-						"main": 1,
+						"main":            1,
+						"CodeownersFiles": 2,
 					},
 				},
 				{
@@ -1481,7 +1485,8 @@ func TestBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 					Probe:   "requiresCodeOwnersReview",
 					Outcome: finding.OutcomePositive,
 					Values: map[string]int{
-						"main2": 1,
+						"main2":           1,
+						"CodeownersFiles": 2,
 					},
 				},
 				{
diff --git a/probes/requiresCodeOwnersReview/impl.go b/probes/requiresCodeOwnersReview/impl.go
index 44f4bc92c0b..429b3c8163f 100644
--- a/probes/requiresCodeOwnersReview/impl.go
+++ b/probes/requiresCodeOwnersReview/impl.go
@@ -63,9 +63,6 @@ func Run(raw *checker.RawResults) ([]finding.Finding, string, error) {
 		case !*reqOwnerReviews:
 			text = fmt.Sprintf("codeowners review is not required on branch '%s'", *branch.Name)
 			outcome = finding.OutcomeNegative
-		case len(r.CodeownersFiles) == 0:
-			text = "codeowners review is required - but no codeowners file found in repo"
-			outcome = finding.OutcomeNegative
 		default:
 			text = fmt.Sprintf("codeowner review is required on branch '%s'", *branch.Name)
 			outcome = finding.OutcomePositive