diff --git a/build/scripts/locate-vs.ps1 b/build/scripts/locate-vs.ps1
index 2188df933008ae91597d8e4fe6a0f465f6ede4ef..368ac014d98996b79eb170d39eaa734a7c9e6748 100644
--- a/build/scripts/locate-vs.ps1
+++ b/build/scripts/locate-vs.ps1
@@ -51,6 +51,6 @@ try
 }
 catch
 {
-  Write-Host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
-  Exit 1
+  # Return an empty string and let the caller fallback or handle this as appropriate
+  return ""
 }