diff --git a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/providers/phone.test.ts b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/providers/phone.test.ts
index 9f555920ef3..752aa2a892d 100644
--- a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/providers/phone.test.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/providers/phone.test.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ describe('platform_browser/providers/phone', () => {
   context('#verifyPhoneNumber', () => {
     it('calls verify on the appVerifier and then calls the server when recaptcha enterprise is disabled', async () => {
       const recaptchaConfigResponseOff = {
-        recaptchaKey: 'foo/bar/to/site-key',
+        // no recaptcha key if no rCE provider is enabled
         recaptchaEnforcementState: [
           {
             provider: RecaptchaAuthProvider.PHONE_PROVIDER,
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ describe('platform_browser/providers/phone', () => {
 
     it('throws an error if verify without appVerifier when recaptcha enterprise is disabled', async () => {
       const recaptchaConfigResponseOff = {
-        recaptchaKey: 'foo/bar/to/site-key',
+        // no recaptcha key if no rCE provider is enabled
         recaptchaEnforcementState: [
           {
             provider: RecaptchaAuthProvider.PHONE_PROVIDER,
diff --git a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.test.ts b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.test.ts
index b1fa4efebd3..58a5bdaf6ad 100644
--- a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.test.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.test.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ const recaptchaConfigResponseAudit = {
   ]
 };
 const recaptchaConfigResponseOff = {
-  recaptchaKey: 'foo/bar/to/site-key',
+  // no recaptcha key if no rCE provider is enabled
   recaptchaEnforcementState: [
     {
       provider: RecaptchaAuthProvider.PHONE_PROVIDER,
diff --git a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.ts b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.ts
index 904854c4dc8..bf4c1a35ee4 100644
--- a/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.ts
+++ b/packages/auth/src/platform_browser/strategies/phone.ts
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ import { _castAuth } from '../../core/auth/auth_impl';
 import { getModularInstance } from '@firebase/util';
 import { ProviderId } from '../../model/enums';
 import {
-  RecaptchaEnterpriseVerifier,
   FAKE_TOKEN,
-  handleRecaptchaFlow
+  handleRecaptchaFlow,
+  _initializeRecaptchaConfig
 } from '../recaptcha/recaptcha_enterprise_verifier';
 import { _isFirebaseServerApp } from '@firebase/app';
 
@@ -227,8 +227,17 @@ export async function _verifyPhoneNumber(
   verifier?: ApplicationVerifierInternal
 ): Promise<string> {
   if (!auth._getRecaptchaConfig()) {
-    const enterpriseVerifier = new RecaptchaEnterpriseVerifier(auth);
-    await enterpriseVerifier.verify();
+    try {
+      await _initializeRecaptchaConfig(auth);
+    } catch (error) {
+      // If an error occurs while fetching the config, there is no way to know the enablement state
+      // of Phone provider, so we proceed with recaptcha V2 verification.
+      // The error is likely "recaptchaKey undefined", as reCAPTCHA Enterprise is not
+      // enabled for any provider.
+      console.log(
+        'Failed to initialize reCAPTCHA Enterprise config. Triggering the reCAPTCHA v2 verification.'
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   try {