diff --git a/pkg/rootless/rootless.go b/pkg/rootless/rootless.go
index e1466e91aa..3d654b1f35 100644
--- a/pkg/rootless/rootless.go
+++ b/pkg/rootless/rootless.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"sync"
 
+	"github.com/containers/storage/pkg/fileutils"
 	"github.com/containers/storage/pkg/lockfile"
 	"github.com/moby/sys/user"
 	spec "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 // TryJoinFromFilePaths.  If joining fails, it attempts to delete the specified
 // file.
 func TryJoinPauseProcess(pausePidPath string) (bool, int, error) {
-	if _, err := os.Stat(pausePidPath); err != nil {
+	if err := fileutils.Exists(pausePidPath); err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
 			return false, -1, nil
 		}