diff --git a/usr.sbin/portsnap/portsnap/portsnap.sh b/usr.sbin/portsnap/portsnap/portsnap.sh
index f9f4716375d..5826fa1b737 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/portsnap/portsnap/portsnap.sh
+++ b/usr.sbin/portsnap/portsnap/portsnap.sh
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ cmd_alfred() {
 	else
 		cmd_cron
 	fi
-	if [ -d ${PORTSDIR} ]; then
+	if [ -r ${PORTSDIR}/.portsnap.INDEX ]; then
 		cmd_update
 	else
 		cmd_extract