diff --git a/pl/boot.yap b/pl/boot.yap
index 51f372965..0a70cf50e 100644
--- a/pl/boot.yap
+++ b/pl/boot.yap
@@ -1016,7 +1016,16 @@ access_file(F,Mode) :-
 '$exists'(F,Mode) :-
 	get_value(fileerrors,V),
 	set_value(fileerrors,0),
-	( '$open'(F,Mode,S,0,1) -> '$close'(S), set_value(fileerrors,V) ; set_value(fileerrors,V), fail).
+	system:true_file_name(F, F1),
+	(
+	 '$open'(F1,Mode,S,0,1)
+	->
+	 '$close'(S),
+	 set_value(fileerrors,V)
+	;
+	 set_value(fileerrors,V),
+	 fail
+	).
 
 
 % term expansion
diff --git a/pl/yio.yap b/pl/yio.yap
index 95ebb170d..fc3e10248 100644
--- a/pl/yio.yap
+++ b/pl/yio.yap
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ open_pipe_streams(P1,P2) :- '$open_pipe_stream'(P1, P2).
 fileerrors :- set_value(fileerrors,1).
 nofileerrors :- set_value(fileerrors,0).
 
-exists(F) :- '$exists'(F,read).
+exists(F) :- '$exists'(F,'$csult').
 
 see(user) :- !, set_input(user_input).
 see(F) :- var(F), !,
@@ -989,15 +989,6 @@ at_end_of_line(S) :-
 
 consult_depth(LV) :- '$show_consult_level'(LV).
 
-'$exists'(F,Mode,AbsFile) :-
-	get_value(fileerrors,V),
-	set_value(fileerrors,0),
-	( '$open'(F,Mode,S,0,0), !,
-	    '$file_name'(S, AbsFile),
-	     '$close'(S), set_value(fileerrors,V);
-	     set_value(fileerrors,V), fail).
-
-
 current_char_conversion(X,Y) :-
 	var(X), !,
 	'$all_char_conversions'(List),