diff --git a/src/browser.c b/src/browser.c
index 7fda929..df70231 100644
--- a/src/browser.c
+++ b/src/browser.c
@@ -331,6 +331,14 @@ char *do_browser(char *path)
 		continue;
 	    }
 
+	    if (chdir(filelist[selected]) == -1) {
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"),
+				filelist[selected], strerror(errno));
+		continue;
+	    } else {
+		IGNORE_CALL_RESULT(chdir(present_path));
+	    }
+
 	    /* If we moved up one level, remember where we came from, so
 	     * this directory can be highlighted and easily reentered. */
 	    if (strcmp(tail(filelist[selected]), "..") == 0)