diff --git a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/IndexUtils.hs b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/IndexUtils.hs
index f66cf0d651c..705c62d62d1 100644
--- a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/IndexUtils.hs
+++ b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/IndexUtils.hs
@@ -457,8 +457,8 @@ readRepoIndex verbosity repoCtxt repo idxState =
       if isDoesNotExistError e
         then do
           case repo of
-            RepoRemote{..} -> dieWithException verbosity $ MissingPackageList repoRemote
-            RepoSecure{..} -> dieWithException verbosity $ MissingPackageList repoRemote
+            RepoRemote{..} -> warn verbosity $ exceptionMessageCabalInstall $ MissingPackageList repoRemote
+            RepoSecure{..} -> warn verbosity $ exceptionMessageCabalInstall $ MissingPackageList repoRemote
             RepoLocalNoIndex local _ ->
               warn verbosity $
                 "Error during construction of local+noindex "
diff --git a/cabal-testsuite/PackageTests/Get/T7248/cabal.out b/cabal-testsuite/PackageTests/Get/T7248/cabal.out
index a172b425d4d..0c6e3ce035c 100644
--- a/cabal-testsuite/PackageTests/Get/T7248/cabal.out
+++ b/cabal-testsuite/PackageTests/Get/T7248/cabal.out
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # cabal get
 Warning: <ROOT>/cabal.config: Unrecognized stanza on line 3
-Error: [Cabal-7160]
-The package list for 'repo.invalid' does not exist. Run 'cabal update' to download it.
+Warning: The package list for 'repo.invalid' does not exist. Run 'cabal update' to download it.
+Error: [Cabal-7100]
+There is no package named 'a-b-s-e-n-t'. 
+You may need to run 'cabal update' to get the latest list of available packages.