diff --git a/cmd/helm/package.go b/cmd/helm/package.go
index 4076128c1..196d9b6e0 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/package.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/package.go
@@ -76,8 +76,7 @@ func newPackageCmd(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
-				if _, err := os.Stat(path); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-					_, err := os.Stat(args[i])
+				if _, err := os.Stat(args[i]); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 
diff --git a/cmd/helm/package_test.go b/cmd/helm/package_test.go
index 8f38a239c..c7b9cf637 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/package_test.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/package_test.go
@@ -296,8 +296,10 @@ func TestPackageValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNonExistentDir(t *testing.T) {
+func TestNonExistentDirAndBadPermission(t *testing.T) {
 	nonExistentDir := "testdata/testcharts/non-existent-directory"
+	badPermissionChart := "testdata/testcharts/chart-with-bad-permission/chart-dir"
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
 		flags   map[string]string
@@ -312,6 +314,12 @@ func TestNonExistentDir(t *testing.T) {
 			expect: fmt.Sprintf("stat %s: no such file or directory", nonExistentDir),
 			err:    true,
 		},
+		{
+			name:   "package testdata/testcharts/non-existent-directory",
+			args:   []string{"testdata/testcharts/chart-with-bad-permission/chart-dir"},
+			expect: fmt.Sprintf("stat %s: permission denied", badPermissionChart),
+			err:    true,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {