diff --git a/pl/boot.yap b/pl/boot.yap
index 9dc69db5f..3eb380225 100644
--- a/pl/boot.yap
+++ b/pl/boot.yap
@@ -921,8 +921,8 @@ access_file(F,Mode) :-
 	'$exists'(F,Mode).
 
 '$exists'(_,none) :- !.
-'$exists'(F,exists) :-
-	'$access'(F), !.
+'$exists'(F,exist) :- !,
+	'$access'(F).
 '$exists'(F,Mode) :-
 	get_value(fileerrors,V),
 	set_value(fileerrors,0),
diff --git a/pl/consult.yap b/pl/consult.yap
index 8c9e86640..3f0807f34 100644
--- a/pl/consult.yap
+++ b/pl/consult.yap
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ absolute_file_name(V,Out) :- var(V), !,
 	'$do_error'(instantiation_error, absolute_file_name(V, Out)).
 absolute_file_name(user,user) :- !.
 absolute_file_name(File0,File) :-
-	'$absolute_file_name'(File0,[access(read),file_type(source),file_errors(fail),solutions(first)],File,absolute_file_name(File0,File)).
+	'$absolute_file_name'(File0,[access(exist),file_type(source),file_errors(fail),solutions(first)],File,absolute_file_name(File0,File)).
 
 '$find_in_path'(F0,F,G) :-
 	'$absolute_file_name'(F0,[access(read),file_type(source),file_errors(fail),solutions(first)],F,G).