diff --git a/api/src/main/java/ai/djl/util/NeuronUtils.java b/api/src/main/java/ai/djl/util/NeuronUtils.java
index 762b4e1469e..e8adf215c8a 100644
--- a/api/src/main/java/ai/djl/util/NeuronUtils.java
+++ b/api/src/main/java/ai/djl/util/NeuronUtils.java
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public static int getNeuronCoresForDevice(String location) {
             return 0;
         }
         Path file = path.resolve("core_count");
-        if (Files.exists(file)) {
+        if (Files.exists(file) && Files.isReadable(file)) {
             try (InputStream is = Files.newInputStream(file)) {
                 return Integer.parseInt(Utils.toString(is));
             } catch (IOException e) {