diff --git a/CHANGES/4294.bugfix b/CHANGES/4294.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ce76075691
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/4294.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed bug where incorrect error message presented in relation to content-import
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/views/importer.py b/pulpcore/app/views/importer.py
index 14acdfcd91..bbe182c557 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/views/importer.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/views/importer.py
@@ -40,11 +40,14 @@ def _validate_file(in_param, data):
         return rc, [msg]
 
     # check directory-sanity, leave if failed
+    # use os.stat to ensure directory exists and pulp has read-access
+    # return any errors received from os.stat to the user
+
     owning_dir = os.path.dirname(real_file)
-    if not os.path.exists(owning_dir):
-        return False, [_("directory {} does not exist").format(owning_dir)]
-    if not os.access(owning_dir, os.R_OK):
-        return False, [_("directory {} does not allow read-access").format(owning_dir)]
+    try:
+        os.stat(owning_dir)
+    except OSError as e:
+        return False, [_("{}").format(e)]
 
     # check file-exists, leave if failed
     if not os.path.exists(real_file):