diff --git a/conan/tools/files/conandata.py b/conan/tools/files/conandata.py
index 0b01824bbc5..95e6273d313 100644
--- a/conan/tools/files/conandata.py
+++ b/conan/tools/files/conandata.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def recursive_dict_update(d, u):
     save(path, new_content)
 
 
-def trim_conandata(conanfile):
+def trim_conandata(conanfile, raise_if_missing=True):
     """
     Tool to modify the ``conandata.yml`` once it is exported, to limit it to the current version
     only
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ def trim_conandata(conanfile):
         raise ConanException("The 'trim_conandata()' can only be used in the 'export()' method")
     path = os.path.join(conanfile.export_folder, "conandata.yml")
     if not os.path.exists(path):
-        raise ConanException("conandata.yml file doesn't exist")
+        if raise_if_missing:
+            raise ConanException("conandata.yml file doesn't exist")
+        else:
+            conanfile.output.warning("conandata.yml file doesn't exist")
+            return
 
     conandata = load(path)
     conandata = yaml.safe_load(conandata)
diff --git a/conans/test/integration/conanfile/conan_data_test.py b/conans/test/integration/conanfile/conan_data_test.py
index 89f10d65912..c9388da801d 100644
--- a/conans/test/integration/conanfile/conan_data_test.py
+++ b/conans/test/integration/conanfile/conan_data_test.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import textwrap
 import unittest
 
+import pytest
 import yaml
 
 from conans.model.recipe_ref import RecipeReference
@@ -375,3 +376,22 @@ def post_export(conanfile):
     assert "1.1" not in data2
     assert data1 == data2
     assert "pkg/1.0: Exported: pkg/1.0#03af39add1c7c9d68dcdb10b6968a14d" in c.out
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("raise_if_missing", [True, False])
+def test_trim_conandata_as_hook_without_conandata(raise_if_missing):
+    c = TestClient()
+    c.save_home({"extensions/hooks/hook_trim.py": textwrap.dedent(f"""
+    from conan.tools.files import trim_conandata
+
+    def post_export(conanfile):
+        trim_conandata(conanfile, raise_if_missing={raise_if_missing})
+    """)})
+
+    c.save({"conanfile.py": GenConanfile("pkg")})
+    if raise_if_missing:
+        with pytest.raises(Exception, match="conandata.yml file doesn't exist") as exception:
+            c.run("export . --version=1.0")
+    else:
+        c.run("export . --version=1.0")
+        assert c.exported_recipe_revision() == "a9ec2e5fbb166568d4670a9cd1ef4b26"