diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
index 205247d1226d..84f0ee6d219c 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
@@ -570,10 +570,12 @@ function mix($path, $manifestDirectory = '')
         $manifest = $manifests[$manifestPath];
 
         if (! isset($manifest[$path])) {
-            throw new Exception(
-                "Unable to locate Mix file: {$path}. Please check your ".
-                'webpack.mix.js output paths and try again.'
-            );
+            report(new Exception("Unable to locate Mix file: {$path}. Please check your ".
+                           'webpack.mix.js output paths and try again.'));
+
+            if (! app('config')->get('app.debug')) {
+                return $path;
+            }
         }
 
         return new HtmlString($manifestDirectory.$manifest[$path]);