diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2ab577b..b5ef9f6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -354,10 +354,10 @@ pixa finds: `/etc/pixa/config.yml`, `/etc/pixa/config.yaml`,
 `~/.config/pixa/config.yml`, `~/.config/pixa/config.yaml`, then `config.yml`
 and `config.yaml` in the working directory. A named file that does not exist,
 cannot be read or does not parse aborts startup. Of the files pixa looks for on
-its own, one it finds but cannot read or parse aborts startup; one it cannot
-find, for any reason, is passed over without a message, even when the file is
-there in a directory pixa may not enter. With no file, pixa uses the environment
-and the defaults.
+its own, only one that does not exist is passed over, without a message. One
+that pixa cannot read or parse aborts startup, naming the file. So does one in a
+directory pixa may not enter, whether or not it is there, since pixa cannot
+tell. With no file, pixa uses the environment and the defaults.
 
 | Variable                             | Config key                      | Meaning                                                                      |
 | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 224b2da..a000929 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ P2: security: referer blacklist
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-04 a config file pixa cannot read aborts startup (closes #176): of the
+  places pixa looks for its config file on its own, only one where the file does
+  not exist is passed over; any other error, such as a directory on the path
+  that pixa may not enter, aborts startup naming the file, as a file that does
+  not parse already did.
 - 2026-10-04 the metrics basic auth, CORS preflight, request logging and
   metrics recording have tests (closes #79): `MetricsAuth` on its own answers
   401 with a challenge without credentials or with a wrong username or password
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index b8e041b..35254b3 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package config
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
 	"log/slog"
 	"math"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -778,19 +779,25 @@ func loadConfigFile(log *slog.Logger, appName string) (*smartconfig.Config, erro
 	for _, path := range configPaths {
 		cleanPath := filepath.Clean(path)
 
+		// Only a config file that does not exist is skipped. One that
+		// cannot be read or does not parse is a fatal startup error.
 		_, statErr := os.Stat(cleanPath)
-		if statErr == nil {
-			// A config file that exists but does not parse is a fatal
-			// startup error, never something to skip over.
-			sc, err := smartconfig.NewFromConfigPath(path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse config file %s: %w", path, err)
-			}
-
-			log.Info("loaded config file", "path", path)
-
-			return sc, nil
+		if errors.Is(statErr, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+			continue
 		}
+
+		if statErr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read config file %s: %w", path, statErr)
+		}
+
+		sc, err := smartconfig.NewFromConfigPath(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse config file %s: %w", path, err)
+		}
+
+		log.Info("loaded config file", "path", path)
+
+		return sc, nil
 	}
 
 	return nil, nil //nolint:nilnil // nil config is valid (use defaults)