diff --git a/mongoose.c b/mongoose.c
index 87eb6a7d..5caae4ab 100644
--- a/mongoose.c
+++ b/mongoose.c
@@ -1331,6 +1331,8 @@ static int mg_stat(struct mg_connection *conn, const char *path,
     filep->size = st.st_size;
     filep->modification_time = st.st_mtime;
     filep->is_directory = S_ISDIR(st.st_mode);
+  } else {
+    filep->modification_time = (time_t) 0;
   }
 
   return filep->membuf != NULL || filep->modification_time != (time_t) 0;
@@ -4461,7 +4463,11 @@ static void uninitialize_ssl(struct mg_context *ctx) {
 static int set_gpass_option(struct mg_context *ctx) {
   struct file file;
   const char *path = ctx->config[GLOBAL_PASSWORDS_FILE];
-  return path == NULL || !mg_stat(fc(ctx), path, &file);
+  if (path != NULL && !mg_stat(fc(ctx), path, &file)) {
+    cry(fc(ctx), "Cannot open %s: %s", path, strerror(ERRNO));
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return 1;
 }
 
 static int set_acl_option(struct mg_context *ctx) {
diff --git a/test/unit_test.c b/test/unit_test.c
index 070ba731..81a9c266 100644
--- a/test/unit_test.c
+++ b/test/unit_test.c
@@ -349,6 +349,13 @@ static void test_user_data(void) {
   call_user(fc(ctx), MG_NEW_REQUEST);
 }
 
+static void test_mg_stat(void) {
+  static struct mg_context ctx;
+  struct file file;
+  memset(&file, 'A', sizeof(file));
+  ASSERT(!mg_stat(fc(&ctx), " does not exist ", &file));
+}
+
 int main(void) {
   test_base64_encode();
   test_match_prefix();
@@ -360,6 +367,7 @@ int main(void) {
   test_set_throttle();
   test_next_option();
   test_user_data();
+  test_mg_stat();
 #ifdef USE_LUA
   test_lua();
 #endif