diff --git a/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/config_file.py b/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/config_file.py
index 86b7195d..a67440ee 100644
--- a/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/config_file.py
+++ b/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/config_file.py
@@ -453,9 +453,13 @@ def save(self, secure_props=True):
         Returns:
             None
         """
-        # Update the config file with any changes
+        # Updating the config file with any changes
         if self.profiles is None:
-            self.init_from_file()
+            try:
+                self.init_from_file()
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                pass
+
         elif any(self.profiles.values()):
             with open(self.filepath, 'w') as file:
                 self.jsonc["profiles"] = self.profiles
diff --git a/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/profile_manager.py b/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/profile_manager.py
index 18dbbe49..43c8db3b 100644
--- a/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/profile_manager.py
+++ b/src/core/zowe/core_for_zowe_sdk/profile_manager.py
@@ -326,25 +326,34 @@ def get_highest_priority_layer(self, json_path: str) -> Optional[ConfigFile]:
         ]
 
         original_name = layers[0].get_profile_name_from_path(json_path)
-
-        if not self._show_warnings:
-            warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
         
         for layer in layers:
-            layer.init_from_file()
+            try:
+                layer.init_from_file()
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                continue
             parts = original_name.split(".")
             current_name = ""
+
             while parts:
                 current_name = ".".join(parts)
                 profile = layer.find_profile(current_name, layer.profiles)
+
                 if profile is not None and len(current_name) > len(longest_match):
                     highest_layer = layer
                     longest_match = current_name
+
                 else:
                     parts.pop()
             if original_name == longest_match:
                 break
-        warnings.resetwarnings()
+
+            if highest_layer is None:
+                highest_layer = layer
+
+        if highest_layer is None:
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Could not find a valid layer for {json_path}")
+    
         return highest_layer
      
        
@@ -360,10 +369,7 @@ def set_property(self, json_path, value, secure=None) -> None:
 
         # highest priority layer for the given profile name
         highest_priority_layer = self.get_highest_priority_layer(json_path)
-        # If the profile doesn't exist in any layer, use the project user config as the default location
-        if not highest_priority_layer:
-            highest_priority_layer = self.project_user_config
-
+       
         # Set the property in the highest priority layer
 
         highest_priority_layer.set_property(json_path, value, secure=secure)
@@ -378,8 +384,6 @@ def set_profile(self, profile_path: str, profile_data: dict) -> None:
         """
         highest_priority_layer = self.get_highest_priority_layer(profile_path)
 
-        if not highest_priority_layer:
-            highest_priority_layer = self.project_user_config
         highest_priority_layer.set_profile(profile_path, profile_data)
     
     def save(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_zowe_core.py b/tests/unit/test_zowe_core.py
index 9cc5044f..253f68bd 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_zowe_core.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_zowe_core.py
@@ -579,9 +579,7 @@ def test_profile_loading_with_env_variables(self, get_pass_func):
         }
         self.assertEqual(props, expected_props)
 
-    @mock.patch("warnings.simplefilter")
-    @mock.patch("warnings.resetwarnings")
-    def test_get_highest_priority_layer(self, mock_resetwarnings, mock_simplefilter):
+    def test_get_highest_priority_layer(self):
         """
         Test that get_highest_priority_layer returns the highest priority layer with a valid profile data dictionary.
         """
@@ -593,15 +591,12 @@ def test_get_highest_priority_layer(self, mock_resetwarnings, mock_simplefilter)
         # Set up the ProfileManager
         profile_manager = ProfileManager()
         profile_manager.project_user_config = project_user_config
-        profile_manager._show_warnings = False
         project_user_config.get_profile_name_from_path.return_value = "zosmf"
         # Call the function being tested
         result_layer = profile_manager.get_highest_priority_layer("zosmf")
         
         # Assert the results
         self.assertEqual(result_layer, project_user_config)
-        mock_simplefilter.assert_called_with("ignore")
-        mock_resetwarnings.assert_called()
 
     @patch("zowe.core_for_zowe_sdk.ProfileManager.get_highest_priority_layer")
     def test_profile_manager_set_property(self, get_highest_priority_layer_mock):