diff --git a/lib/binding.js b/lib/binding.js
index 9dbcb9c1..a9b56d1b 100644
--- a/lib/binding.js
+++ b/lib/binding.js
@@ -953,8 +953,9 @@ Binding.prototype.readdir = function(
     if (!(dir instanceof Directory)) {
       throw new FSError('ENOTDIR', dirpath);
     }
-
-    this.access(dirpath, parseInt('0002', 8));
+    if (!dir.canRead()) {
+      throw new FSError('EACCES', dirpath);
+    }
 
     let list = dir.list();
     if (encoding === 'buffer') {
diff --git a/test/lib/fs.readdir.spec.js b/test/lib/fs.readdir.spec.js
index 0dbe2153..a96ed463 100644
--- a/test/lib/fs.readdir.spec.js
+++ b/test/lib/fs.readdir.spec.js
@@ -244,10 +244,4 @@ describe('fs.readdirSync(path)', function() {
       fs.readdirSync('denied');
     });
   });
-
-  it('throws when access refused', function() {
-    assert.throws(function() {
-      fs.readdirSync('denied');
-    });
-  });
 });