diff --git a/ci3/cache_content_hash b/ci3/cache_content_hash
index 393a4bd573e5..8cc33b5c703f 100755
--- a/ci3/cache_content_hash
+++ b/ci3/cache_content_hash
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ diff="$({
 if [ -n "$diff" ]; then
   # Fail. We shouldn't be writing files during the build.
   if [ "${CI:-0}" = 1 ]; then
-    echo "Noticed changes to rebuild patterns: "$@", would disable cache but being strict because CI=1. Changed file names: $diff"
-    exit 1
+    echo_stderr "WARNING: Noticed changes to rebuild patterns: $diff"
   fi
   # Signal to cache_upload and cache_download to not touch this file.
   echo "disabled-cache"