diff --git a/nanobot/channels/manager.py b/nanobot/channels/manager.py
index b63510fae..c310943cd 100644
--- a/nanobot/channels/manager.py
+++ b/nanobot/channels/manager.py
@@ -144,9 +144,11 @@ class ChannelManager:
             else:
                 allow = getattr(cfg, "allow_from", None)
             if allow is None:
-                raise SystemExit(
-                    f'Error: "{name}" is missing or null allowFrom. '
-                    f'Set ["*"] to allow everyone, or add specific user IDs.'
+                # allowFrom omitted → pairing-only mode.  Unapproved senders
+                # receive a pairing code instead of being silently ignored.
+                logger.info(
+                    '"{}" has no allowFrom; unapproved users will receive a pairing code',
+                    name,
                 )
 
     def _should_send_progress(self, channel_name: str, *, tool_hint: bool = False) -> bool:
diff --git a/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py b/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
index 9b6e79783..2309df2c2 100644
--- a/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
+++ b/tests/channels/test_channel_plugins.py
@@ -1010,6 +1010,36 @@ async def test_validate_allow_from_allows_empty_dict_allow_from():
     mgr._validate_allow_from()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_validate_allow_from_allows_missing_allow_from():
+    """Omitted allowFrom is valid — channel operates in pairing-only mode."""
+    fake_config = SimpleNamespace(
+        channels=ChannelsConfig(),
+        providers=SimpleNamespace(groq=SimpleNamespace(api_key="")),
+    )
+
+    class _NoAllowFromChannel(BaseChannel):
+        name = "noallow"
+        display_name = "No Allow"
+
+        async def start(self) -> None:
+            pass
+
+        async def stop(self) -> None:
+            pass
+
+        async def send(self, msg: OutboundMessage) -> None:
+            pass
+
+    mgr = ChannelManager.__new__(ChannelManager)
+    mgr.config = fake_config
+    mgr.channels = {"test": _NoAllowFromChannel({"enabled": True}, None)}
+    mgr._dispatch_task = None
+
+    # Should not raise — pairing-only mode
+    mgr._validate_allow_from()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_get_channel_returns_channel_if_exists():
     """get_channel should return the channel if it exists."""