diff --git a/framework/CHANGELOG.md b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
index 0185dbb7835..c100209e75a 100644
--- a/framework/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Yii Framework 2 Change Log
 ------------------------
 
 - Bug #20232: Fix regression introduced in `GHSA-cjcc-p67m-7qxm` while attaching behavior defined by `__class` array key (erickskrauch)
+- Bug #20231: Fix regression introduced in #20167 in `yii\validators\FileValidator` (bizley)
 
 2.0.51 July 18, 2024
 --------------------
diff --git a/framework/validators/FileValidator.php b/framework/validators/FileValidator.php
index 758c8242e2e..28a2df0fa32 100644
--- a/framework/validators/FileValidator.php
+++ b/framework/validators/FileValidator.php
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ public function validateAttribute($model, $attribute)
     {
         $files = $this->filterFiles(is_array($model->$attribute) ? $model->$attribute : [$model->$attribute]);
         $filesCount = count($files);
-        if ($filesCount === 0 && $this->minFiles > 0) {
+        if ($filesCount === 0) {
             $this->addError($model, $attribute, $this->uploadRequired);
 
             return;
diff --git a/tests/framework/validators/FileValidatorTest.php b/tests/framework/validators/FileValidatorTest.php
index 0b42b54967e..9e05edf4d23 100644
--- a/tests/framework/validators/FileValidatorTest.php
+++ b/tests/framework/validators/FileValidatorTest.php
@@ -115,10 +115,11 @@ public function testValidateAttributeMultiple()
         ]);
         $m = FakedValidationModel::createWithAttributes(['attr_files' => 'path']);
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files');
-        $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors('attr_files'));
+        $this->assertTrue($m->hasErrors('attr_files'));
         $m = FakedValidationModel::createWithAttributes(['attr_files' => []]);
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files');
-        $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors('attr_files'));
+        $this->assertTrue($m->hasErrors('attr_files'));
+        $this->assertSame($val->uploadRequired, current($m->getErrors('attr_files')));
 
         $m = FakedValidationModel::createWithAttributes(
             [
@@ -334,7 +335,7 @@ public function testValidateArrayAttributeWithMinMaxOneAndOneFile()
                     'type' => 'image/png',
                 ],
             ]
-        )[0];
+        )[0]; // <-- only one file
         $model = FakedValidationModel::createWithAttributes(['attr_images' => [$files]]);
 
         $validator->validateAttribute($model, 'attr_images');
@@ -422,7 +423,8 @@ public function testValidateAttribute()
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files');
         $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors());
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files_empty');
-        $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors('attr_files_empty'));
+        $this->assertTrue($m->hasErrors('attr_files_empty'));
+        $this->assertSame($val->uploadRequired, current($m->getErrors('attr_files_empty')));
 
         // single File with skipOnEmpty = false
         $val = new FileValidator(['skipOnEmpty' => false]);
@@ -430,7 +432,8 @@ public function testValidateAttribute()
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files');
         $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors());
         $val->validateAttribute($m, 'attr_files_empty');
-        $this->assertFalse($m->hasErrors('attr_files_empty'));
+        $this->assertTrue($m->hasErrors('attr_files_empty'));
+        $this->assertSame($val->uploadRequired, current($m->getErrors('attr_files_empty')));
         $m = $this->createModelForAttributeTest();
 
         // too big
@@ -689,7 +692,8 @@ public function testValidateMimeTypeCaseInsensitive($mask, $fileMimeType, $expec
         $this->assertEquals($expected, $validator->validate($file), sprintf('Mime type validate fail: "%s" / "%s"', $mask, $fileMimeType));
     }
 
-    public function mimeTypeCaseInsensitive() {
+    public function mimeTypeCaseInsensitive()
+    {
         return [
             ['Image/*', 'image/jp2', true],
             ['image/*', 'Image/jp2', true],