diff --git a/freqtrade/configuration/config_validation.py b/freqtrade/configuration/config_validation.py
index 4bb260b52..aa9a1757d 100644
--- a/freqtrade/configuration/config_validation.py
+++ b/freqtrade/configuration/config_validation.py
@@ -193,7 +193,12 @@ def _validate_protections(conf: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     """
 
     for prot in conf.get("protections", []):
-        parsed_unlock_at = _validate_unlock_at(prot)
+        parsed_unlock_at = None
+        if (config_unlock_at := prot.get("unlock_at")) is not None:
+            try:
+                parsed_unlock_at = datetime.strptime(config_unlock_at, "%H:%M")
+            except ValueError:
+                raise ConfigurationError(f"Invalid date format for unlock_at: {config_unlock_at}.")
 
         if "stop_duration" in prot and "stop_duration_candles" in prot:
             raise ConfigurationError(
@@ -217,14 +222,6 @@ def _validate_protections(conf: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
             )
 
 
-def _validate_unlock_at(config_unlock_at: str) -> datetime:
-    if config_unlock_at is not None and isinstance(config_unlock_at, str):
-        try:
-            return datetime.strptime(config_unlock_at, "%H:%M")
-        except ValueError:
-            raise ConfigurationError(f"Invalid date format for unlock_at: {config_unlock_at}.")
-
-
 def _validate_ask_orderbook(conf: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     ask_strategy = conf.get("exit_pricing", {})
     ob_min = ask_strategy.get("order_book_min")
diff --git a/tests/test_configuration.py b/tests/test_configuration.py
index f9368246a..af482a965 100644
--- a/tests/test_configuration.py
+++ b/tests/test_configuration.py
@@ -840,6 +840,21 @@ def test_validate_whitelist(default_conf):
             ],
             r"Protections must specify either `stop_duration`.*",
         ),
+        (
+            [
+                {
+                    "method": "StoplossGuard",
+                    "lookback_period": 20,
+                    "stop_duration": 10,
+                    "unlock_at": "20:02",
+                }
+            ],
+            r"Protections must specify either `unlock_at`, `stop_duration` or.*",
+        ),
+        (
+            [{"method": "StoplossGuard", "lookback_period_candles": 20, "unlock_at": "20:02"}],
+            None,
+        ),
     ],
 )
 def test_validate_protections(default_conf, protconf, expected):