diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b003c1e34..a0d8a8cfe 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ For older change log history see the [historic changelog](HISTORIC_CHANGELOG.md)
   - Fixed ability to clear `ServicePrincipalNameSuffix` and `UserPrincipalNameSuffix` ([issue #548](https://github.com/PowerShell/ActiveDirectoryDsc/issues/548)).
 - ADObjectPermissionEntry
     - Fixed issue where Get-DscConfiguration / Test-DscConfiguration throw an exception when target object path does not yet exist ([issue #552](https://github.com/dsccommunity/ActiveDirectoryDsc/issues/552))
+- ADOrganizationalUnit
+  - Fixed issue where Get-DscConfiguration / Test-DscConfiguration throw an exception when parent path does not yet exist ([issue #553](https://github.com/dsccommunity/ActiveDirectoryDsc/issues/553))
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/Tests/Unit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.Tests.ps1 b/Tests/Unit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.Tests.ps1
index bfa8c70cc..eff74aeef 100644
--- a/Tests/Unit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.Tests.ps1
+++ b/Tests/Unit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.Tests.ps1
@@ -114,15 +114,15 @@ try
                 $targetResource.Description | Should -BeNullOrEmpty
             }
 
-            It 'Should throw the correct error if the path does not exist' {
+            It 'Returns "Ensure" = "Absent" when OU parent path does not exist and does not throw an exception' {
                 Mock -CommandName Assert-Module
                 Mock -CommandName Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -MockWith { throw New-Object Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.Management.ADIdentityNotFoundException }
 
-                $errorMessage = $script:localizedData.PathNotFoundError -f $testPresentParams.Path
-                { Get-TargetResource -Name $testPresentParams.Name -Path $testPresentParams.Path } | Should -Throw $errorMessage
+                $targetResource = Get-TargetResource -Name $testPresentParams.Name -Path $testPresentParams.Path
+                $targetResource.Ensure | Should -Be 'Absent'
             }
 
-            It 'Should throw the correct error if an unkwon error occurs' {
+            It 'Should throw the correct error if an unknown error occurs' {
                 $error = 'Unknown Error'
                 Mock -CommandName Assert-Module
                 Mock -CommandName Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -MockWith { throw $error }
diff --git a/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.psm1 b/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.psm1
index fac251dbc..e21b3d6f8 100644
--- a/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.psm1
+++ b/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.psm1
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ function Get-TargetResource
     }
     catch [Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.Management.ADIdentityNotFoundException]
     {
-        $errorMessage = $script:localizedData.PathNotFoundError -f $Path
-        New-ObjectNotFoundException -Message $errorMessage
+        Write-Verbose -Message ($script:localizedData.OUPathIsAbsent -f $Path)
     }
     catch
     {
diff --git a/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/en-US/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.strings.psd1 b/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/en-US/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.strings.psd1
index 0b9e8ad85..e66e43d15 100644
--- a/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/en-US/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.strings.psd1
+++ b/source/DSCResources/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit/en-US/MSFT_ADOrganizationalUnit.strings.psd1
@@ -10,5 +10,5 @@ ConvertFrom-StringData @'
     OUExistsButShouldNot       = OU '{0}' exists when it should not exist. (ADOU0008)
     OUDoesNotExistButShould    = OU '{0}' does not exist when it should exist. (ADOU0009)
     OUDoesNotExistAndShouldNot = OU '{0}' does not exist and is in the desired state. (ADOU0010)
-    PathNotFoundError          = The Path '{0}' was not found. (ADOU0011)
+    OUPathIsAbsent             = The OU Path '{0}' is absent from Active Directory. (ADOU0011)
 '@