diff --git a/System/Directory/Internal/Windows.hsc b/System/Directory/Internal/Windows.hsc
index 1b7c5295..8c55861c 100644
--- a/System/Directory/Internal/Windows.hsc
+++ b/System/Directory/Internal/Windows.hsc
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ openFileForRead (OsString path) =
       Win32.gENERIC_READ
       maxShareMode
       Nothing
-      Win32.oPEN_ALWAYS
+      Win32.oPEN_EXISTING
       (Win32.fILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL .|. possiblyOverlapped)
       Nothing)
     Win32.closeHandle