diff --git a/db/migrate/20260106151226_add_documents_to_default_projects_modules.rb b/db/migrate/20260106151226_add_documents_to_default_projects_modules.rb
index 81a20792f55..a6eaf0a2629 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20260106151226_add_documents_to_default_projects_modules.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20260106151226_add_documents_to_default_projects_modules.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 class AddDocumentsToDefaultProjectsModules < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
   def up
+    return unless Setting.exists?(:real_time_text_collaboration_enabled)
     return unless Setting.real_time_text_collaboration_enabled?
 
     # Only update if setting exists in DB (avoid updating on new installations - seeder handles that)
diff --git a/spec/migrations/add_documents_to_default_projects_modules_spec.rb b/spec/migrations/add_documents_to_default_projects_modules_spec.rb
index d2dcbad789e..14e7bf64b8d 100644
--- a/spec/migrations/add_documents_to_default_projects_modules_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/migrations/add_documents_to_default_projects_modules_spec.rb
@@ -101,4 +101,20 @@ RSpec.describe AddDocumentsToDefaultProjectsModules, type: :model do
       expect(Setting.default_projects_modules).to match_array(base_modules)
     end
   end
+
+  context "when real_time_text_collaboration_enabled setting does not exist" do
+    before do
+      Setting.default_projects_modules = base_modules
+      allow(Setting).to receive(:exists?).and_call_original
+      allow(Setting).to receive(:exists?).with(:real_time_text_collaboration_enabled).and_return(false)
+    end
+
+    it "does not modify the default modules" do
+      ActiveRecord::Migration.suppress_messages { described_class.migrate(:up) }
+
+      Setting.clear_cache
+      expect(Setting.default_projects_modules).not_to include("documents")
+      expect(Setting.default_projects_modules).to match_array(base_modules)
+    end
+  end
 end