diff --git a/src/icloudpd/authentication.py b/src/icloudpd/authentication.py
index da5a37864..fdcfc8994 100644
--- a/src/icloudpd/authentication.py
+++ b/src/icloudpd/authentication.py
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@
 from icloudpd.status import Status, StatusExchange
 
 
-class TwoStepAuthRequiredError(Exception):
-    """
-    Raised when 2SA is required. base.py catches this exception
-    and sends an email notification.
-    """
-
-
 def authenticator(
     logger: logging.Logger,
     domain: str,
@@ -33,13 +26,13 @@ def authenticator(
     ],
     mfa_provider: MFAProvider,
     status_exchange: StatusExchange,
-) -> Callable[[str, Optional[str], bool, Optional[str]], PyiCloudService]:
+) -> Callable[[str, Optional[str], Optional[Callable[[], None]], Optional[str]], PyiCloudService]:
     """Wraping authentication with domain context"""
 
     def authenticate_(
         username: str,
         cookie_directory: Optional[str] = None,
-        raise_error_on_2sa: bool = False,
+        mfa_error_callable: Optional[Callable[[], None]] = None,
         client_id: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> PyiCloudService:
         """Authenticate with iCloud username and password"""
@@ -74,8 +67,8 @@ def authenticate_(
                 _writer(username, _valid_password)
 
         if icloud.requires_2fa:
-            if raise_error_on_2sa:
-                raise TwoStepAuthRequiredError("Two-factor authentication is required")
+            if mfa_error_callable:
+                mfa_error_callable()
             logger.info("Two-factor authentication is required (2fa)")
             if mfa_provider == MFAProvider.WEBUI:
                 request_2fa_web(icloud, logger, status_exchange)
@@ -83,8 +76,8 @@ def authenticate_(
                 request_2fa(icloud, logger)
 
         elif icloud.requires_2sa:
-            if raise_error_on_2sa:
-                raise TwoStepAuthRequiredError("Two-step authentication is required")
+            if mfa_error_callable:
+                mfa_error_callable()
             logger.info("Two-step authentication is required (2sa)")
             request_2sa(icloud, logger)
 
diff --git a/src/icloudpd/base.py b/src/icloudpd/base.py
index 47cb41579..f43ce6ab4 100644
--- a/src/icloudpd/base.py
+++ b/src/icloudpd/base.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 from tzlocal import get_localzone
 
 from icloudpd import constants, download, exif_datetime
-from icloudpd.authentication import TwoStepAuthRequiredError, authenticator
+from icloudpd.authentication import authenticator
 from icloudpd.autodelete import autodelete_photos
 from icloudpd.config import Config
 from icloudpd.counter import Counter
@@ -1174,29 +1174,7 @@ def core(
 ) -> int:
     """Download all iCloud photos to a local directory"""
 
-    raise_error_on_2sa = (
-        smtp_username is not None
-        or notification_email is not None
-        or notification_script is not None
-    )
-    try:
-        icloud = authenticator(
-            logger,
-            domain,
-            filename_cleaner,
-            lp_filename_generator,
-            raw_policy,
-            file_match_policy,
-            password_providers,
-            mfa_provider,
-            status_exchange,
-        )(
-            username,
-            cookie_directory,
-            raise_error_on_2sa,
-            os.environ.get("CLIENT_ID"),
-        )
-    except TwoStepAuthRequiredError:
+    def _notify_mfa_error():
         if notification_script is not None:
             subprocess.call([notification_script])
         if smtp_username is not None or notification_email is not None:
@@ -1210,7 +1188,23 @@ def core(
                 notification_email,
                 notification_email_from,
             )
-        return 1
+
+    icloud = authenticator(
+        logger,
+        domain,
+        filename_cleaner,
+        lp_filename_generator,
+        raw_policy,
+        file_match_policy,
+        password_providers,
+        mfa_provider,
+        status_exchange,
+    )(
+        username,
+        cookie_directory,
+        _notify_mfa_error,
+        os.environ.get("CLIENT_ID"),
+    )
 
     if auth_only:
         logger.info("Authentication completed successfully")