diff --git a/roles/copy-release-tools-scripts/files/release-tools/change_reno_branch_to_unmaintained.sh b/roles/copy-release-tools-scripts/files/release-tools/change_reno_branch_to_unmaintained.sh
index c30a0863bc..f22d5f5d7a 100755
--- a/roles/copy-release-tools-scripts/files/release-tools/change_reno_branch_to_unmaintained.sh
+++ b/roles/copy-release-tools-scripts/files/release-tools/change_reno_branch_to_unmaintained.sh
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ REPO=$2
 
 cd $REPO
 
+if [[ ! -f releasenotes/source/${SERIES}.rst ]]; then
+    echo "No releasenotes source defined for series ${SERIES}, nothing to update."
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 commit_msg="reno: Update master for unmaintained/${SERIES}
 
 Update the ${SERIES} release notes configuration to build from