diff --git a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/Summarize.node.ts b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/Summarize.node.ts
index 83ded6d7af..f8c1d99f27 100644
--- a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/Summarize.node.ts
+++ b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/Summarize.node.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ export class Summarize implements INodeType {
 		},
 		inputs: [NodeConnectionType.Main],
 		outputs: [NodeConnectionType.Main],
+		// [ria]
+		hints: [
+			{
+				message:
+					"The field '$aggregation.field' does not exist in any items. Consider turning on 'Continue if Field Not Found' in options.",
+				displayCondition: '={{ $parameter["fieldsToSummarize"] }}',
+				whenToDisplay: 'afterExecution',
+				location: 'outputPane',
+			},
+		],
+		// [ria]
 		properties: [
 			{
 				displayName: 'Fields to Summarize',
@@ -315,16 +326,17 @@ export class Summarize implements INodeType {
 		const nodeVersion = this.getNode().typeVersion;
 
 		if (nodeVersion < 2.1) {
-			try {
-				checkIfFieldExists.call(this, newItems, fieldsToSummarize, getValue);
-			} catch (error) {
-				if (options.continueIfFieldNotFound) {
-					const itemData = generatePairedItemData(items.length);
+			// try {
+			const fieldNotFound = checkIfFieldExists.call(this, newItems, fieldsToSummarize, getValue);
+			// if this call returns something (the not-found field name)
+			// make it return something instead of throwing an error
+			// } catch (error) {
+			if (options.continueIfFieldNotFound || fieldNotFound) {
+				const itemData = generatePairedItemData(items.length);
 
-					return [[{ json: {}, pairedItem: itemData }]];
-				} else {
-					throw error;
-				}
+				return [[{ json: {}, pairedItem: itemData }]];
+			} else {
+				// throw error; // show hints instead
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/utils.ts b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/utils.ts
index 0094d4d8ef..03afa04118 100644
--- a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/Transform/Summarize/utils.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
 import get from 'lodash/get';
-import {
-	type IDataObject,
-	type GenericValue,
-	type IExecuteFunctions,
-	NodeOperationError,
-} from 'n8n-workflow';
+import { type IDataObject, type GenericValue, type IExecuteFunctions } from 'n8n-workflow';
 
 type AggregationType =
 	| 'append'
@@ -94,6 +89,7 @@ export const fieldValueGetter = (disableDotNotation?: boolean) => {
 };
 
 export function checkIfFieldExists(
+	// add tests that check that no error is thrown and instead warning is issued
 	this: IExecuteFunctions,
 	items: IDataObject[],
 	aggregations: Aggregations,
@@ -105,10 +101,13 @@ export function checkIfFieldExists(
 		}
 		const exist = items.some((item) => getValue(item, aggregation.field) !== undefined);
 		if (!exist) {
-			throw new NodeOperationError(
-				this.getNode(),
-				`The field '${aggregation.field}' does not exist in any items`,
-			);
+			return aggregation.field;
+			// throw new NodeOperationError(
+			// turn this into warning instead of error will return early
+			// return aggregation.field -> field name can be used in the hint description! but if it returns... does it end the iteration!?
+			// 	this.getNode(),
+			// 	`The field '${aggregation.field}' does not exist in any items`,
+			// );
 		}
 	}
 }