diff --git a/crates/core/src/session/mod.rs b/crates/core/src/session/mod.rs
index 05fcba2a..97f23b3f 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/session/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/session/mod.rs
@@ -107,11 +107,12 @@ pub fn read_manifest(session_id: &str) -> Result<Option<SessionManifest>, AppErr
     let mut file = match open_session_file(&path) {
         Ok(file) => file,
         Err(err) if err.kind() == ErrorKind::NotFound => return Ok(None),
-        Err(err) if is_symlinked(&path) => return Ok(ignore_unreadable_manifest(&path, &err)),
-        Err(err) => return Err(err.into()),
+        Err(err) => return Ok(ignore_unreadable_manifest(&path, &err)),
     };
     let mut json = String::new();
-    file.read_to_string(&mut json)?;
+    if let Err(err) = file.read_to_string(&mut json) {
+        return Ok(ignore_unreadable_manifest(&path, &err));
+    }
     match serde_json::from_str(&json) {
         Ok(manifest) => Ok(Some(manifest)),
         Err(err) => Ok(ignore_unreadable_manifest(&path, &err)),
diff --git a/crates/core/src/session/session_tests.rs b/crates/core/src/session/session_tests.rs
index 27beb677..7a3aacec 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/session/session_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/session/session_tests.rs
@@ -226,6 +226,35 @@ fn corrupt_manifest_is_ignored_not_fatal() {
     assert!(!listed.iter().any(|id| id == "corruptsess"));
 }
 
+#[cfg(unix)]
+#[test]
+fn unreadable_manifest_is_skipped_not_fatal_for_list_and_gc() {
+    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+
+    if unsafe { libc::geteuid() } == 0 {
+        return;
+    }
+    let _guard = HomeGuard::new();
+    let good = start_session(StartSessionOptions {
+        name: None,
+        trace: SessionTraceMode::Off,
+        force: true,
+    })
+    .unwrap();
+    let bad_dir = session_dir("unreadablesess").unwrap();
+    fs::create_dir_all(&bad_dir).unwrap();
+    let manifest = bad_dir.join("session.json");
+    fs::write(&manifest, b"{}").unwrap();
+    fs::set_permissions(&manifest, fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o000)).unwrap();
+
+    let listed: Vec<String> = list_sessions().unwrap().into_iter().map(|m| m.id).collect();
+    assert!(listed.contains(&good.id));
+    assert!(!listed.iter().any(|id| id == "unreadablesess"));
+    assert!(read_manifest("unreadablesess").unwrap().is_none());
+
+    fs::set_permissions(&manifest, fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o600)).unwrap();
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn gc_leaves_recently_created_unended_session() {
     let _guard = HomeGuard::new();