diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/btc/fs.c b/sys/src/cmd/btc/fs.c
index eaf2aebd3..31a69d9d0 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/btc/fs.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/btc/fs.c
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ btcopen(Req *req)
 	d = entr + (int)req->fid->qid.path;
 	switch(req->ifcall.mode & 3){
 	case OREAD:
-		if(d->str == nil && (req->fid->qid.type & QTDIR) == 0)
+		if((req->fid->qid.type & QTDIR) != 0)
+			break;
+		if(d->str == nil)
 			goto noperm;
 		reqqueuepush(queue, req, btcopenread);
 		return;