diff --git a/checks/branch_protection.go b/checks/branch_protection.go
index ebe86d68bb6..2f941926a4b 100644
--- a/checks/branch_protection.go
+++ b/checks/branch_protection.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ package checks
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
 	"regexp"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-github/v32/github"
@@ -100,12 +102,14 @@ func checkReleaseAndDevBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, r repositories, dl
 	checkBranches[*repo.DefaultBranch] = true
 
 	protected := true
+	unknown := false
 	// Check protections on all the branches.
 	for b := range checkBranches {
 		p, err := isBranchProtected(branches, b)
 		if err != nil {
 			return checker.CreateRuntimeErrorResult(CheckBranchProtection, err)
 		}
+		// nolint
 		if !p {
 			protected = false
 			dl.Warn("branch protection not enabled for branch '%s'", b)
@@ -113,7 +117,17 @@ func checkReleaseAndDevBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, r repositories, dl
 			// The branch is protected. Check the protection.
 			score, err := getProtectionAndCheck(ctx, r, dl, ownerStr, repoStr, b)
 			if err != nil {
-				return checker.CreateRuntimeErrorResult(CheckBranchProtection, err)
+				if errors.Is(err, errInternalBranchNotFound) {
+					// Without an admin token, you only get information on the protection boolean.
+					// Add a score of 1 (minimal branch protection) for this protected branch.
+					unknown = true
+					scores = append(scores, 1)
+					dl.Warn("no detailed settings available for branch protection '%s'", b)
+					continue
+				} else {
+					// Github timeout or other error
+					return checker.CreateRuntimeErrorResult(CheckBranchProtection, err)
+				}
 			}
 			scores = append(scores, score)
 		}
@@ -135,6 +149,11 @@ func checkReleaseAndDevBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, r repositories, dl
 			"branch protection is fully enabled on development and all release branches")
 	}
 
+	if unknown {
+		return checker.CreateResultWithScore(CheckBranchProtection,
+			"branch protection is enabled on development and all release branches but settings are unknown", score)
+	}
+
 	return checker.CreateResultWithScore(CheckBranchProtection,
 		"branch protection is not maximal on development and all release branches", score)
 }
@@ -170,9 +189,14 @@ func isBranchProtected(branches []*github.Branch, name string) (bool, error) {
 
 func getProtectionAndCheck(ctx context.Context, r repositories, dl checker.DetailLogger, ownerStr, repoStr,
 	branch string) (int, error) {
-	// We only call this if the branch is protected. An error indicates not found.
-	protection, _, err := r.GetBranchProtection(ctx, ownerStr, repoStr, branch)
+	// We only call this if the branch is protected.
+	protection, resp, err := r.GetBranchProtection(ctx, ownerStr, repoStr, branch)
 	if err != nil {
+		// Check the type of error. A not found error indicates that permissions are denied.
+		if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusNotFound {
+			//nolint
+			return 1, sce.Create(errInternalBranchNotFound, errInternalBranchNotFound.Error())
+		}
 		//nolint
 		return checker.InconclusiveResultScore, sce.Create(sce.ErrScorecardInternal, err.Error())
 	}
diff --git a/checks/branch_protection_test.go b/checks/branch_protection_test.go
index 7d01a8ea35f..1f9c0fda46e 100644
--- a/checks/branch_protection_test.go
+++ b/checks/branch_protection_test.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ type mockRepos struct {
 	protections   map[string]*github.Protection
 	defaultBranch *string
 	releases      []*string
+	nonadmin      bool
 }
 
 func (m mockRepos) Get(ctx context.Context, o, r string) (
@@ -51,11 +52,13 @@ func (m mockRepos) ListReleases(ctx context.Context, owner string,
 
 func (m mockRepos) GetBranchProtection(ctx context.Context, o string, r string,
 	b string) (*github.Protection, *github.Response, error) {
-	p, ok := m.protections[b]
-	if ok {
-		return p, &github.Response{
-			Response: &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusAccepted},
-		}, nil
+	if !m.nonadmin {
+		p, ok := m.protections[b]
+		if ok {
+			return p, &github.Response{
+				Response: &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusAccepted},
+			}, nil
+		}
 	}
 	return nil, &github.Response{
 			Response: &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusNotFound},
@@ -88,6 +91,7 @@ func TestReleaseAndDevBranchProtected(t *testing.T) {
 		defaultBranch *string
 		releases      []*string
 		protections   map[string]*github.Protection
+		nonadmin      bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "Only development branch",
@@ -395,6 +399,34 @@ func TestReleaseAndDevBranchProtected(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "Non-admin check with protected release and development",
+			expected: scut.TestReturn{
+				Errors:        nil,
+				Score:         1,
+				NumberOfWarn:  2,
+				NumberOfInfo:  0,
+				NumberOfDebug: 0,
+			},
+			nonadmin:      true,
+			defaultBranch: &main,
+			branches:      []*string{&rel1, &main},
+			releases:      []*string{&rel1},
+			protections: map[string]*github.Protection{
+				"main": {
+					RequiredStatusChecks: &github.RequiredStatusChecks{
+						Strict:   true,
+						Contexts: []string{"foo"},
+					},
+				},
+				"release/v.1": {
+					RequiredStatusChecks: &github.RequiredStatusChecks{
+						Strict:   true,
+						Contexts: []string{"foo"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
@@ -406,6 +438,7 @@ func TestReleaseAndDevBranchProtected(t *testing.T) {
 				branches:      tt.branches,
 				releases:      tt.releases,
 				protections:   tt.protections,
+				nonadmin:      tt.nonadmin,
 			}
 			dl := scut.TestDetailLogger{}
 			r := checkReleaseAndDevBranchProtection(context.Background(), m,
diff --git a/e2e/branch_protection_test.go b/e2e/branch_protection_test.go
index 44cbb69e261..b6a5ddce35c 100644
--- a/e2e/branch_protection_test.go
+++ b/e2e/branch_protection_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ossf/scorecard/v2/checker"
 	"github.com/ossf/scorecard/v2/checks"
-	sce "github.com/ossf/scorecard/v2/errors"
 	scut "github.com/ossf/scorecard/v2/utests"
 )
 
@@ -41,9 +40,9 @@ var _ = Describe("E2E TEST:"+checks.CheckBranchProtection, func() {
 				Dlogger:     &dl,
 			}
 			expected := scut.TestReturn{
-				Errors:        []error{sce.ErrScorecardInternal},
-				Score:         checker.InconclusiveResultScore,
-				NumberOfWarn:  0,
+				Errors:        nil,
+				Score:         1,
+				NumberOfWarn:  3,
 				NumberOfInfo:  0,
 				NumberOfDebug: 0,
 			}