diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 2112e578dccc..e99e2a9da0f7 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -2849,8 +2849,10 @@ static int may_open(const struct path *path, int acc_mode, int flag)
 	case S_IFLNK:
 		return -ELOOP;
 	case S_IFDIR:
-		if (acc_mode & (MAY_WRITE | MAY_EXEC))
+		if (acc_mode & MAY_WRITE)
 			return -EISDIR;
+		if (acc_mode & MAY_EXEC)
+			return -EACCES;
 		break;
 	case S_IFBLK:
 	case S_IFCHR: