diff --git a/src/utils/os_unix.c b/src/utils/os_unix.c
index 0118d9816..65c6fa412 100644
--- a/src/utils/os_unix.c
+++ b/src/utils/os_unix.c
@@ -435,11 +435,7 @@ char * os_readfile(const char *name, size_t *len)
 
 int os_file_exists(const char *fname)
 {
-	FILE *f = fopen(fname, "rb");
-	if (f == NULL)
-		return 0;
-	fclose(f);
-	return 1;
+	return access(fname, F_OK) == 0;
 }