diff --git a/dash/_callback.py b/dash/_callback.py
index 1b92907df1..534e770bf0 100644
--- a/dash/_callback.py
+++ b/dash/_callback.py
@@ -635,6 +635,7 @@ def _update_background_callback(
     kwargs,
     background,
     multi,
+    output_spec,
     cache_key=None,
     job_id=None,
 ):
@@ -663,6 +664,7 @@ def _update_background_callback(
         error_handler,
         callback_ctx,
         multi,
+        output_spec,
         cache_key=cache_key,
         job_id=job_id,
     )
@@ -675,6 +677,7 @@ def _handle_rest_background_callback(
     error_handler,
     callback_ctx,
     multi,
+    output_spec,
     has_update=False,
     cache_key=None,
     job_id=None,
@@ -693,7 +696,7 @@ def _handle_rest_background_callback(
         if error_handler:
             output_value = error_handler(exc)
 
-            if output_value is None:
+            if output_value is None and output_spec:
                 output_value = NoUpdate()
             # set_props from the error handler uses the original ctx
             # instead of manager.get_updated_props since it runs in the
@@ -927,7 +930,7 @@ def add_context(*args, **kwargs):
                         )
 
                     output_value, has_update, skip = _update_background_callback(
-                        error_handler, callback_ctx, response, kwargs, background, multi
+                        error_handler, callback_ctx, response, kwargs, background, multi, output_spec
                     )
                     if skip:
                         return output_value
@@ -998,7 +1001,7 @@ async def async_add_context(*args, **kwargs):
                             callback_ctx,
                         )
                     output_value, has_update, skip = _update_background_callback(
-                        error_handler, callback_ctx, response, kwargs, background, multi
+                        error_handler, callback_ctx, response, kwargs, background, multi, output_spec
                     )
                     if skip:
                         return output_value