diff --git a/writefrudata.C b/writefrudata.C
index 7ee2127..6791148 100644
--- a/writefrudata.C
+++ b/writefrudata.C
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@
                          (fruid, get_fru_area_type(fru_entry), bus_type, bmc_fru);
 
         // Physically being present
-        bool present = std::ifstream(fru_file_name);
+        bool present = access(fru_file_name, F_OK) == 0;
         fru_area->set_present(present);
 
         // Only setup dbus path for areas defined in BMC.