diff --git a/src/applications/repository/storage/PhabricatorRepository.php b/src/applications/repository/storage/PhabricatorRepository.php
--- a/src/applications/repository/storage/PhabricatorRepository.php
+++ b/src/applications/repository/storage/PhabricatorRepository.php
@@ -2375,6 +2375,11 @@
    * @task sync
    */
   public function synchronizeWorkingCopyAfterWrite() {
+    $device = AlmanacKeys::getLiveDevice();
+    if (!$device) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (!$this->clusterWriteLock) {
       throw new Exception(
         pht(
@@ -2382,14 +2387,6 @@
           'lock!'));
     }
 
-    $device = AlmanacKeys::getLiveDevice();
-    if (!$device) {
-      throw new Exception(
-        pht(
-          'Trying to synchronize after write, but this host is not an '.
-          'Almanac device.'));
-    }
-
     $repository_phid = $this->getPHID();
     $device_phid = $device->getPHID();