diff --git a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
index 47b0279dc2..8d73708aee 100644
--- a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
+++ b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
@@ -428,12 +428,9 @@ class NetAppCmodeClient(client_base.NetAppBaseClient):
             vol_encryption_supported = result.get_child_content(
                 'vol-encryption-supported') or 'false'
         except netapp_api.NaApiError as e:
-            if (e.code == netapp_api.EAPIERROR and
-                    "key manager is not enabled" in e.message):
-                LOG.debug("%s", e.message)
-                return False
-            else:
-                raise
+            LOG.debug("NVE disabled due to error code: %s - %s",
+                      e.code, e.message)
+            return False
 
         return strutils.bool_from_string(vol_encryption_supported)
 
diff --git a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
index 0b9e501fb6..29dc93d299 100644
--- a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
+++ b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ class NetAppClientCmodeTestCase(test.TestCase):
     def test_get_security_key_manager_nve_support_disabled(self):
         api_response = netapp_api.NaElement(
             fake.SECUTITY_KEY_MANAGER_NVE_SUPPORT_RESPONSE_FALSE)
-        self.mock_object(self.client, 'send_request',
+        self.mock_object(self.client,
+                         'send_request',
                          mock.Mock(return_value=api_response))
 
         result = self.client.get_security_key_manager_nve_support(
@@ -201,16 +202,21 @@ class NetAppClientCmodeTestCase(test.TestCase):
             mock.call('security-key-manager-volume-encryption-supported',
                       api_args)])
 
-        self.mock_object(self.client, 'send_request', self._mock_api_error())
-        self.assertRaises(netapp_api.NaApiError,
-                          self.client.get_security_key_manager_nve_support,
-                          fake.NODE_NAME)
-        self.mock_object(self.client, 'send_request', self._mock_api_error(
-            code=netapp_api.EAPIERROR, message=fake.FAKE_KEY_MANAGER_ERROR))
+    def test_get_security_key_manager_nve_support_disabled_no_license(self):
+        self.mock_object(self.client,
+                         'send_request',
+                         self._mock_api_error())
+
         result = self.client.get_security_key_manager_nve_support(
             fake.NODE_NAME)
+
         self.assertFalse(result)
 
+        api_args = {'node': fake.NODE_NAME}
+        self.client.send_request.assert_has_calls([
+            mock.call('security-key-manager-volume-encryption-supported',
+                      api_args)])
+
     @ddt.data((True, True, True), (False, None, False))
     @ddt.unpack
     def test_send_volume_move_request_success(self, validation_only,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1772026-nve-license-not-present-fix-e5d2e0d6c5df9227.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1772026-nve-license-not-present-fix-e5d2e0d6c5df9227.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..64d174cfe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1772026-nve-license-not-present-fix-e5d2e0d6c5df9227.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Since the addition of NVE support, the Netapp driver used to fail to start
+    when a VE license is not present on an ONTAP > 9.1. Now the driver starts
+    but it reports NVE not supported.
\ No newline at end of file