diff --git a/client/vnc/server/agent_darwin.go b/client/vnc/server/agent_darwin.go
index a7db3202b..f7efde0fe 100644
--- a/client/vnc/server/agent_darwin.go
+++ b/client/vnc/server/agent_darwin.go
@@ -188,9 +188,12 @@ func ensureAgentSocketParent(parent string) error {
 // owned by uid with mode 0700. Lstat (not Stat) so a symlink is detected.
 func purgeStaleAgentSubdir(subdir string, uid uint32) error {
 	info, err := os.Lstat(subdir)
-	if err != nil {
+	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("lstat %s: %w", subdir, err)
+	}
 	if agentSubdirOK(info, uid) {
 		return nil
 	}