diff --git a/internal/handlers/check.go b/internal/handlers/check.go
index f836450..54d2150 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/check.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/check.go
@@ -178,9 +178,13 @@ func CheckMyWork(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 					// make sure the file exists in the filesystem
 				case "File Path", "Supplemental File":
 					filename := strings.ReplaceAll(cell, `\`, `/`)
-					filename = strings.TrimLeft(filename, "/")
-					if len(filename) > 3 && filename[0:3] != "mnt" {
-						filename = fmt.Sprintf("/mnt/islandora_staging/%s", filename)
+					// we're testing with /tmp files
+					if len(filename) < 6 || filename[0:5] != "/tmp/" {
+						// but need to make sure we're mapping /mnt/islandora_staging into /data in docker
+						filename = strings.TrimLeft(filename, "/")
+						if len(filename) > 3 && filename[0:3] != "mnt" {
+							filename = fmt.Sprintf("/mnt/islandora_staging/%s", filename)
+						}
 					}
 
 					filename = strings.ReplaceAll(filename, "/mnt/islandora_staging", "/data")
@@ -251,7 +255,13 @@ func fileExists(filename string) bool {
 	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 		return false
 	}
-	return !info.IsDir()
+	if !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	mode := info.Mode().Perm()
+	// Check if the file is globally readable
+	return mode&0004 != 0
 }
 
 func authRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) bool {
diff --git a/internal/handlers/check_test.go b/internal/handlers/check_test.go
index d46f93d..d31a191 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/check_test.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/check_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,28 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestCheckMyWork(t *testing.T) {
+	files := []struct {
+		name         string
+		permissions  os.FileMode
+		expectAccess bool
+	}{
+		{"/tmp/test_readable.txt", 0644, true}, // Readable globally
+		{"/tmp/test_writable.txt", 0666, true}, // Writable globally
+		{"/tmp/test_private.txt", 0600, false}, // Not accessible globally
+	}
+
+	// Create test files
+	for _, file := range files {
+		if err := os.WriteFile(file.name, []byte("test content"), file.permissions); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to create test file %s: %v", file.name, err)
+		}
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		for _, file := range files {
+			_ = os.Remove(file.name)
+		}
+	}()
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		name       string
 		method     string
@@ -112,6 +134,37 @@ func TestCheckMyWork(t *testing.T) {
 			statusCode: http.StatusOK,
 			response:   `{"D2":"Missing source file"}`,
 		},
+		{
+			name:   "OK file",
+			method: http.MethodPost,
+			body: [][]string{
+				{"Title", "Object Model", "Full Title", "File Path"},
+				{"foo", "Image", "foo", "/tmp/test_readable.txt"},
+			},
+			statusCode: http.StatusOK,
+			response:   `{}`,
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "OK file (rw)",
+			method: http.MethodPost,
+			body: [][]string{
+				{"Title", "Object Model", "Full Title", "File Path"},
+				{"foo", "Image", "foo", "/tmp/test_writable.txt"},
+			},
+			statusCode: http.StatusOK,
+			response:   `{}`,
+		},
+
+		{
+			name:   "Unreadable file",
+			method: http.MethodPost,
+			body: [][]string{
+				{"Title", "Object Model", "Full Title", "File Path"},
+				{"foo", "Image", "foo", "/tmp/test_private.txt"},
+			},
+			statusCode: http.StatusOK,
+			response:   `{"D2":"File does not exist in islandora_staging"}`,
+		},
 		{
 			name:   "Missing file OK",
 			method: http.MethodPost,