diff --git a/karapace/schema_reader.py b/karapace/schema_reader.py
index 9bcd69260..ecf0ce69b 100644
--- a/karapace/schema_reader.py
+++ b/karapace/schema_reader.py
@@ -240,11 +240,12 @@ def run(self) -> None:
                     # Handles also a unusual case of purged schemas topic where starting offset can be > 0
                     # and no records to process.
                     self.offset = self._get_beginning_offset()
-                try:
-                    self.handle_messages()
-                except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
-                    self.stats.unexpected_exception(ex=e, where="schema_reader_loop")
-                    LOG.exception("Unexpected exception in schema reader loop")
+                else:
+                    try:
+                        self.handle_messages()
+                    except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                        self.stats.unexpected_exception(ex=e, where="schema_reader_loop")
+                        LOG.exception("Unexpected exception in schema reader loop")
 
     def _get_beginning_offset(self) -> int:
         assert self.consumer is not None, "Thread must be started"
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_schema_reader.py b/tests/integration/test_schema_reader.py
index 738f76498..936c28adc 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_schema_reader.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_schema_reader.py
@@ -287,3 +287,43 @@ async def test_key_format_detection(
         assert key_formatter.get_keymode() == testcase.expected
     finally:
         await master_coordinator.close()
+
+
+# todo: run process of `KafkaSchemaReader` in background and collect logs to assert that
+# it started without any exception raised (or status code in error)
+async def test_schema_topic_creation_is_needed(
+    kafka_servers: KafkaServers,
+) -> None:
+    """Test that the schema registry can start successfully if the cluster needs create the schema registry from zero."""
+    test_name = "test_regression_soft_delete_schemas_should_be_registered"
+    topic_name = new_random_name("topic")
+    group_id = create_group_name_factory(test_name)()
+
+    config = set_config_defaults(
+        {
+            "bootstrap_uri": kafka_servers.bootstrap_servers,
+            "admin_metadata_max_age": 2,
+            "group_id": group_id,
+            "topic_name": topic_name,
+        }
+    )
+    master_coordinator = MasterCoordinator(config=config)
+
+    try:
+        await master_coordinator.start()
+        database = InMemoryDatabase()
+        offset_watcher = OffsetWatcher()
+
+        schema_reader = KafkaSchemaReader(
+            config=config,
+            offset_watcher=offset_watcher,
+            key_formatter=KeyFormatter(),
+            master_coordinator=master_coordinator,
+            database=database,
+        )
+        schema_reader.start()
+
+        with closing(schema_reader):
+            await _wait_until_reader_is_ready_and_master(master_coordinator, schema_reader)
+    finally:
+        await master_coordinator.close()