diff --git a/src/Access/SettingsProfileElement.h b/src/Access/SettingsProfileElement.h
index c9f6936c832..e4be0821407 100644
--- a/src/Access/SettingsProfileElement.h
+++ b/src/Access/SettingsProfileElement.h
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ class AccessControl;
 struct SettingsProfileElement
 {
     std::optional<UUID> parent_profile;
+    /// parent_profile_xml_name is set only when users are configured via XML
+    /// and is used for user-friendly error messages.
+    std::optional<String> parent_profile_xml_name;
+
     String setting_name;
     Field value;
     Field min_value;
diff --git a/src/Access/SettingsProfilesCache.cpp b/src/Access/SettingsProfilesCache.cpp
index 2a3dedbbd7a..37a544cf051 100644
--- a/src/Access/SettingsProfilesCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Access/SettingsProfilesCache.cpp
@@ -170,8 +170,15 @@ void SettingsProfilesCache::substituteProfiles(
             continue;
 
         auto profile_it = all_profiles.find(profile_id);
-        if (profile_it == all_profiles.end())
-            continue;
+        if (profile_it == all_profiles.end()) {
+            /// If the textual profile name is set, then users are configured via XML.
+            /// For these users we want to throw an exception when their profile can't
+            /// be found. Otherwise, these users are super admins.
+            if (element.parent_profile_xml_name)
+                throw Exception(ErrorCodes::THERE_IS_NO_PROFILE, "There is no profile '{}' in configuration file", *element.parent_profile_xml_name);
+            else
+                continue;
+        }
 
         const auto & profile = profile_it->second;
         const auto & profile_elements = profile->elements;
diff --git a/src/Access/UsersConfigAccessStorage.cpp b/src/Access/UsersConfigAccessStorage.cpp
index a6c4388fef8..6a2995f2579 100644
--- a/src/Access/UsersConfigAccessStorage.cpp
+++ b/src/Access/UsersConfigAccessStorage.cpp
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ namespace
             auto profile_name = config.getString(profile_name_config);
             SettingsProfileElement profile_element;
             profile_element.parent_profile = generateID(AccessEntityType::SETTINGS_PROFILE, profile_name);
+            profile_element.parent_profile_xml_name = profile_name;
             user->settings.push_back(std::move(profile_element));
         }
 
@@ -473,6 +474,7 @@ namespace
                 String parent_profile_name = config.getString(profile_config + "." + key);
                 SettingsProfileElement profile_element;
                 profile_element.parent_profile = generateID(AccessEntityType::SETTINGS_PROFILE, parent_profile_name);
+                profile_element.parent_profile_xml_name = parent_profile_name;
                 profile->elements.emplace_back(std::move(profile_element));
                 continue;
             }