diff --git a/src/atomate2/common/jobs/approx_neb.py b/src/atomate2/common/jobs/approx_neb.py
index 0db6aedc45..edd07d9b29 100644
--- a/src/atomate2/common/jobs/approx_neb.py
+++ b/src/atomate2/common/jobs/approx_neb.py
@@ -312,13 +312,24 @@ def get_images_and_relax(
             continue
 
         # potential place for uuid logic if depth first is desirable
-        pathfinder_output = get_pathfinder_results(
-            ep_structures[ini_ind],
-            ep_structures[fin_ind],
-            working_ion,
-            n_images[hop_idx],
-            host_chgcar,
-        )
+
+        try:
+            pathfinder_output = get_pathfinder_results(
+                ep_structures[ini_ind],
+                ep_structures[fin_ind],
+                working_ion,
+                n_images[hop_idx],
+                host_chgcar,
+            )
+        except ValueError:
+            warnings.warn(
+                "NEBPathfinder can fail when the initial and final "
+                "images along a hop are nearly identical. "
+                "Excluding this hop.",
+                stacklevel=2,
+            )
+            continue
+
         images_list = pathfinder_output["images"]
 
         # add selective dynamics to structure