diff --git a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_builder.py b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_builder.py
index a78d27374d..e351959804 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_builder.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_builder.py
@@ -2288,13 +2288,8 @@ def test_registered_repeats(self):
         self.assertEqual(row, expected_row)
         csv_file.close()
 
-    @patch("onadata.libs.utils.csv_builder.register_xform_export_repeats_async.delay")
-    def test_registered_repeat_not_found(self, mock_register_repeats):
-        """Registered repeat not found in MetaData
-
-        If a registered repeat is not found in MetaData, the columns
-        should be generated based on the data.
-        """
+    def test_repeat_not_found_in_register(self):
+        """Repeat not found in register"""
         md_xform = """
         | survey  |
         |         | type          | name            | label         |
@@ -2368,15 +2363,7 @@ def test_registered_repeat_not_found(self, mock_register_repeats):
         expected_header = [
             "hospital_repeat[1]/hospital",
             "hospital_repeat[2]/hospital",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[1]/name",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[1]/birthweight",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[1]/sex",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[2]/name",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[2]/birthweight",
-            "hospital_repeat[1]/child_repeat[2]/sex",
-            "hospital_repeat[2]/child_repeat[1]/name",
-            "hospital_repeat[2]/child_repeat[1]/birthweight",
-            "hospital_repeat[2]/child_repeat[1]/sex",
+            "meta/instanceID",
             "_id",
             "_uuid",
             "_submission_time",
@@ -2391,7 +2378,7 @@ def test_registered_repeat_not_found(self, mock_register_repeats):
             "_media_all_received",
         ]
         self.assertCountEqual(header, expected_header)
-        # Missing registered parent repeat should not affect the export
+        # Parent repeat not registered
         metadata.extra_data = {"child_repeat": 2}
         metadata.save
         builder = CSVDataFrameBuilder(
@@ -2406,4 +2393,3 @@ def test_registered_repeat_not_found(self, mock_register_repeats):
         header = next(csv_reader)
         self.assertCountEqual(header, expected_header)
         csv_file.close()
-        mock_register_repeats.assert_called()
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/csv_builder.py b/onadata/libs/utils/csv_builder.py
index 65f4e32ecf..166a13f283 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/csv_builder.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/csv_builder.py
@@ -799,17 +799,6 @@ def build_repeat_cols_from_data():
             # Register repeat columns for future use
             register_xform_export_repeats_async.delay(self.xform.pk)
 
-        def fall_back_to_data():
-            """Fall back to building repeat columns from data.
-
-            Revert any changes made to the ordered columns.
-            """
-            for column_xpath in self.ordered_columns:
-                if isinstance(value, list) and not self.ordered_columns[column_xpath]:
-                    self.ordered_columns[column_xpath] = []
-
-            build_repeat_cols_from_data()
-
         try:
             registered_repeats = MetaData.objects.get(
                 content_type=content_type,
@@ -847,28 +836,22 @@ def build_repeat_columns(repeat_xpath, num_repeats, parent_prefix=None):
                                 child_repeat_xpath = element.get_abbreviated_xpath()
                                 child_repeat_name = child_repeat_xpath.split("/")[-1]
                                 child_repeat_num = registered_repeats.extra_data.get(
-                                    child_repeat_name
-                                )
-                                if child_repeat_num is None:
-                                    fall_back_to_data()
-                                    return
-
-                                build_repeat_columns(
-                                    child_repeat_xpath, child_repeat_num, prefix
+                                    child_repeat_name, 0
                                 )
+                                if child_repeat_num:
+                                    build_repeat_columns(
+                                        child_repeat_xpath, child_repeat_num, prefix
+                                    )
 
             for column_xpath, value in self.ordered_columns.items():
                 if isinstance(value, list) and not value:
                     # Build repeat columns, start from parent and recurse into children
                     # repeat columns
                     repeat_name = column_xpath.split("/")[-1]
-                    repeat_num = registered_repeats.extra_data.get(repeat_name)
-
-                    if repeat_num is None:
-                        fall_back_to_data()
-                        return
+                    repeat_num = registered_repeats.extra_data.get(repeat_name, 0)
 
-                    build_repeat_columns(column_xpath, repeat_num)
+                    if repeat_num:
+                        build_repeat_columns(column_xpath, repeat_num)
 
     def _format_for_dataframe(self, cursor):
         """