diff --git a/core/fs.py b/core/fs.py
index 6d37fb83..11a29a20 100644
--- a/core/fs.py
+++ b/core/fs.py
@@ -315,6 +315,14 @@ class File:
         """Returns whether this file wrapper class can handle ``path``."""
         return not path.is_symlink() and path.is_file()
 
+    def exists(self) -> bool:
+        """Safely check if the underlying file exists, treat error as non-existent"""
+        try:
+            return self.path.exists()
+        except OSError as ex:
+            logging.warning(f"Checking {self.path} raised: {ex}")
+            return False
+
     def rename(self, newname):
         if newname == self.name:
             return
diff --git a/core/scanner.py b/core/scanner.py
index 72550497..67124f20 100644
--- a/core/scanner.py
+++ b/core/scanner.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class Scanner:
         if not self.mix_file_kind:
             matches = [m for m in matches if get_file_ext(m.first.name) == get_file_ext(m.second.name)]
         if self.include_exists_check:
-            matches = [m for m in matches if m.first.path.exists() and m.second.path.exists()]
+            matches = [m for m in matches if m.first.exists() and m.second.exists()]
         matches = [m for m in matches if not (m.first.is_ref and m.second.is_ref)]
         if ignore_list:
             matches = [m for m in matches if not ignore_list.are_ignored(str(m.first.path), str(m.second.path))]