diff --git a/pkg/workflow/action_pins.go b/pkg/workflow/action_pins.go
index 0db3d28694..d2facbd156 100644
--- a/pkg/workflow/action_pins.go
+++ b/pkg/workflow/action_pins.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func GetActionPin(actionRepo string) string {
 
 // GetActionPinWithData returns the pinned action reference for a given action@version
 // It tries dynamic resolution first, then falls back to hardcoded pins
-// If strictMode is true and resolution fails, it returns an error
+// If resolution fails, emits a warning and returns empty string (in both strict and non-strict modes)
 // The returned reference includes a comment with the version tag (e.g., "repo@sha # v1")
 func GetActionPinWithData(actionRepo, version string, data *WorkflowData) (string, error) {
 	actionPinsLog.Printf("Resolving action pin: repo=%s, version=%s, strict_mode=%t", actionRepo, version, data.StrictMode)
@@ -272,17 +272,11 @@ func GetActionPinWithData(actionRepo, version string, data *WorkflowData) (strin
 		}
 	}
 
-	// No pin available
-	if data.StrictMode {
-		errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Unable to pin action %s@%s", actionRepo, version)
-		if data.ActionResolver != nil {
-			errMsg = fmt.Sprintf("Unable to pin action %s@%s: resolution failed", actionRepo, version)
-		}
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, console.FormatErrorMessage(errMsg))
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s", errMsg)
-	}
+	// No pin available - emit warning in both strict and non-strict modes
+	// Note: This used to fail in strict mode, but it's not always possible to resolve pins
+	// so we now emit a warning and continue compilation in both modes
 
-	// In non-strict mode, emit warning and return empty string (unless it's already a SHA)
+	// In both strict and non-strict mode, emit warning and return empty string (unless it's already a SHA)
 	if isAlreadySHA {
 		// If version is already a SHA and we couldn't find it in pins, return it as-is without warnings
 		actionPinsLog.Printf("SHA %s not found in hardcoded pins, returning as-is", version)
diff --git a/pkg/workflow/action_pins_logging_test.go b/pkg/workflow/action_pins_logging_test.go
index 1475b95c7b..c55929af10 100644
--- a/pkg/workflow/action_pins_logging_test.go
+++ b/pkg/workflow/action_pins_logging_test.go
@@ -117,25 +117,30 @@ func TestActionPinResolutionWithMismatchedVersions(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestActionPinResolutionWithStrictMode tests that strict mode prevents version mismatches
+// TestActionPinResolutionWithStrictMode tests action pin resolution in strict mode
+// Note: Strict mode now emits warnings instead of errors when SHA resolution fails,
+// as it's not always possible to resolve pins
 func TestActionPinResolutionWithStrictMode(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		name         string
-		repo         string
-		requestedVer string
-		expectError  bool
+		name          string
+		repo          string
+		requestedVer  string
+		expectWarning bool
+		expectSuccess bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name:         "ai-inference v1 fails in strict mode",
-			repo:         "actions/ai-inference",
-			requestedVer: "v1",
-			expectError:  true,
+			name:          "ai-inference v1 emits warning in strict mode",
+			repo:          "actions/ai-inference",
+			requestedVer:  "v1",
+			expectWarning: true,
+			expectSuccess: false,
 		},
 		{
-			name:         "checkout v5.0.1 succeeds in strict mode",
-			repo:         "actions/checkout",
-			requestedVer: "v5.0.1",
-			expectError:  false,
+			name:          "checkout v5.0.1 succeeds in strict mode",
+			repo:          "actions/checkout",
+			requestedVer:  "v5.0.1",
+			expectWarning: false,
+			expectSuccess: true,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -143,7 +148,7 @@ func TestActionPinResolutionWithStrictMode(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// Create a WorkflowData in strict mode without a resolver
 			data := &WorkflowData{
-				StrictMode:     true, // Strict mode should error on version mismatch
+				StrictMode:     true,
 				ActionResolver: nil,
 			}
 
@@ -159,15 +164,25 @@ func TestActionPinResolutionWithStrictMode(t *testing.T) {
 
 			var buf bytes.Buffer
 			buf.ReadFrom(r)
+			stderrOutput := buf.String()
 
-			if tt.expectError {
-				if err == nil {
-					t.Errorf("Expected error in strict mode for %s@%s, got nil", tt.repo, tt.requestedVer)
+			// Strict mode should never return an error for resolution failures
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("Unexpected error in strict mode for %s@%s: %v", tt.repo, tt.requestedVer, err)
+			}
+
+			if tt.expectWarning {
+				// Should emit warning and return empty result
+				if !strings.Contains(stderrOutput, "Unable to pin action") {
+					t.Errorf("Expected warning message for %s@%s, got: %s", tt.repo, tt.requestedVer, stderrOutput)
 				}
 				if result != "" {
-					t.Errorf("Expected empty result on error, got: %s", result)
+					t.Errorf("Expected empty result on warning, got: %s", result)
 				}
-			} else {
+			}
+
+			if tt.expectSuccess {
+				// Should not emit warning and return non-empty result
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
 				}