diff --git a/ironic_inspector/introspect.py b/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
index f9c113e32..981eda337 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ def _background_introspect(ironic, node_info):
                  {'macs': macs, 'node': node_info.uuid})
         firewall.update_filters(ironic)
 
-    if not node_info.attributes:
+    attrs = node_info.attributes
+    if CONF.processing.node_not_found_hook is None and not attrs:
         raise utils.Error(
             _('No lookup attributes were found for node %s, inspector won\'t '
               'be able to find it after introspection. Consider creating '
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ def _background_introspect(ironic, node_info):
 
     LOG.info(_LI('The following attributes will be used for looking up '
                  'node %(uuid)s: %(attrs)s'),
-             {'attrs': node_info.attributes, 'uuid': node_info.uuid})
+             {'attrs': attrs, 'uuid': node_info.uuid})
 
     if not node_info.options.get('new_ipmi_credentials'):
         try:
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/test/test_introspect.py b/ironic_inspector/test/test_introspect.py
index 037b1fd16..f2bbd509c 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/test/test_introspect.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/test/test_introspect.py
@@ -195,6 +195,24 @@ class TestIntrospect(BaseTest):
         self.assertEqual(0, filters_mock.call_count)
         self.assertEqual(0, cli.node.set_power_state.call_count)
 
+    def test_no_lookup_attrs_with_node_not_found_hook(self, client_mock,
+                                                      add_mock, filters_mock):
+        CONF.set_override('node_not_found_hook', 'example', 'processing')
+        cli = self._prepare(client_mock)
+        self.node_info.ports.return_value = []
+        add_mock.return_value = self.node_info
+        self.node_info.attributes = {}
+
+        introspect.introspect(self.uuid)
+
+        self.node_info.ports.assert_called_once_with()
+        self.assertFalse(self.node_info.finished.called)
+        cli.node.set_boot_device.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid,
+                                                         'pxe',
+                                                         persistent=False)
+        cli.node.set_power_state.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid,
+                                                         'reboot')
+
     def test_failed_to_get_node(self, client_mock, add_mock, filters_mock):
         cli = client_mock.return_value
         cli.node.get.side_effect = exceptions.NotFound()