diff --git a/CRM/Pledge/BAO/Pledge.php b/CRM/Pledge/BAO/Pledge.php
index 112a3eefe50b..ead406b302d2 100644
--- a/CRM/Pledge/BAO/Pledge.php
+++ b/CRM/Pledge/BAO/Pledge.php
@@ -772,11 +772,10 @@ public static function getContactPledgeCount($contactID) {
    * @param array $params
    *
    * @return array
-   * @throws \API_Exception
+   *
    * @throws \CRM_Core_Exception
-   * @throws \CiviCRM_API3_Exception
    */
-  public static function updatePledgeStatus($params): array {
+  public static function updatePledgeStatus(array $params): array {
 
     $returnMessages = [];
 
@@ -875,7 +874,7 @@ public static function updatePledgeStatus($params): array {
       );
       if ($newStatus != $pledgeStatus[$pledgeId]) {
         $returnMessages[] = "- status updated to: {$allPledgeStatus[$newStatus]}";
-        $updateCnt += 1;
+        ++$updateCnt;
       }
     }
 
@@ -992,8 +991,7 @@ public static function updatePledgeStatus($params): array {
                 civicrm_api3('activity', 'create', $activityParams);
               }
               catch (CiviCRM_API3_Exception $e) {
-                $returnMessages[] = "Failed creating Activity for Pledge Reminder: " . $e->getMessage();
-                return ['is_error' => 1, 'message' => $returnMessages];
+                throw new CRM_Core_Exception('Failed creating Activity for Pledge Reminder: ' . $e->getMessage());
               }
               $returnMessages[] = "Payment reminder sent to: {$pledgerName} - {$toEmail}";
             }
@@ -1005,7 +1003,7 @@ public static function updatePledgeStatus($params): array {
     // end if ( $sendReminders )
     $returnMessages[] = "{$updateCnt} records updated.";
 
-    return ['is_error' => 0, 'messages' => implode("\n\r", $returnMessages)];
+    return $returnMessages;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/api/v3/Job.php b/api/v3/Job.php
index 4210e43a695f..f4057444a4b5 100644
--- a/api/v3/Job.php
+++ b/api/v3/Job.php
@@ -306,19 +306,14 @@ function _civicrm_api3_job_update_greeting_spec(&$params) {
  * @param array $params
  *
  * @return array
+ *
+ * @throws \CRM_Core_Exception
  */
-function civicrm_api3_job_process_pledge($params) {
-  // *** Uncomment the next line if you want automated reminders to be sent
-  // $params['send_reminders'] = true;
-  $result = CRM_Pledge_BAO_Pledge::updatePledgeStatus($params);
-
-  if ($result['is_error'] == 0) {
-    // experiment: detailed execution log is a result here
-    return civicrm_api3_create_success($result['messages']);
-  }
-  else {
-    return civicrm_api3_create_error($result['error_message']);
+function civicrm_api3_job_process_pledge(array $params): array {
+  if (!CRM_Core_Component::isEnabled('CiviPledge')) {
+    throw new CRM_Core_Exception(ts('%1 is not enabled'), [1 => ['CiviPledge']]);
   }
+  return civicrm_api3_create_success(implode("\n\r", CRM_Pledge_BAO_Pledge::updatePledgeStatus($params)));
 }
 
 /**