diff --git a/sftp/kio_sftp.cpp b/sftp/kio_sftp.cpp
--- a/sftp/kio_sftp.cpp
+++ b/sftp/kio_sftp.cpp
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@
     }
 
     if (mOpenFile == nullptr) {
-        return Result::fail(KIO::ERR_CANNOT_OPEN_FOR_READING, path);
+        return Result::fail(toKIOError(sftp_get_error(mSftp)), path);
     }
 
     // Determine the mimetype of the file to be retrieved, and emit it.