diff --git a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
index 58c5f298fa9..3244d1cd103 100644
--- a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
+++ b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ so you can edit or delete these lines.")
 ;; options -t, and -v if not interactive.
 (defvar mail-mailer-swallows-blank-line
   (if (and (string-match "sparc-sun-sunos\\(\\'\\|[^5]\\)" system-configuration)
-	   (file-exists-p "/etc/sendmail.cf")
+	   (file-readable-p "/etc/sendmail.cf")
 	   (let ((buffer (get-buffer-create " *temp*")))
 	     (unwind-protect
 		 (save-excursion