diff --git a/python/lsst/summit/utils/butlerUtils.py b/python/lsst/summit/utils/butlerUtils.py
index 75b0e4a2..aee2a510 100644
--- a/python/lsst/summit/utils/butlerUtils.py
+++ b/python/lsst/summit/utils/butlerUtils.py
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ def makeDefaultButler(
     Raises
     ------
     FileNotFoundError
-        Raised if the butler cannot be created.
+        Raised if the butler cannot be created, because this is the error
+        when the DAF_BUTLER_REPOSITORY_INDEX is not set correctly.
     """
     SUPPORTED_SITES = [
         "summit",
@@ -186,7 +187,12 @@ def makeDefaultButler(
 
     site = getSite()
     if site not in SUPPORTED_SITES:
-        raise ValueError(f"Default butler creation only supported at sites: {SUPPORTED_SITES}, got {site=}")
+        # This might look like a slightly weird error to raise, but this is
+        # the same error that's raised when the DAF_BUTLER_REPOSITORY_INDEX
+        # isn't set, so it's the most appropriate error to raise here, i.e.
+        # this is what would be raised if this function was allowed to continue
+        # only this is a less confusing version of it.
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Default butler creation only available at: {SUPPORTED_SITES}, got {site=}")
 
     summitLike = site in ["summit", "tucson", "base"]
     if summitLike:
diff --git a/python/lsst/summit/utils/efdUtils.py b/python/lsst/summit/utils/efdUtils.py
index 9569352a..d6d3512c 100644
--- a/python/lsst/summit/utils/efdUtils.py
+++ b/python/lsst/summit/utils/efdUtils.py
@@ -453,10 +453,9 @@ def makeEfdClient(testing: bool | None = False) -> EfdClient:
     if testing:
         return EfdClient("usdf_efd")
 
-    try:
-        site = getSite()
-    except ValueError as e:
-        raise RuntimeError("Could not create EFD client as the site could not be determined") from e
+    site = getSite()
+    if site == "UNKNOWN":
+        raise RuntimeError("Could not create EFD client as the site could not be determined")
 
     if site == "summit":
         return EfdClient("summit_efd")
diff --git a/python/lsst/summit/utils/utils.py b/python/lsst/summit/utils/utils.py
index 5adf47cc..4e2b9659 100644
--- a/python/lsst/summit/utils/utils.py
+++ b/python/lsst/summit/utils/utils.py
@@ -600,11 +600,8 @@ def getSite() -> str:
         One of:
         ['tucson', 'summit', 'base', 'staff-rsp', 'rubin-devl', 'jenkins',
          'usdf-k8s']
+        If the location cannot be determined "UNKOWN" is returned.
 
-    Raises
-    ------
-    ValueError
-        Raised if location cannot be determined.
     """
     # All nublado instances guarantee that EXTERNAL_URL is set and uniquely
     # identifies it.
@@ -647,7 +644,7 @@ def getSite() -> str:
         return "usdf-k8s"
 
     # we have failed
-    raise ValueError("Location could not be determined")
+    return "UNKOWN"
 
 
 def getAltAzFromSkyPosition(