diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/storage/23-watch.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/storage/23-watch.js
index e43317bb4..9b6c4bc62 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/storage/23-watch.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/storage/23-watch.js
@@ -23,9 +23,13 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     var getAllDirs = function (dir, filelist) {
         filelist = filelist || [];
         fs.readdirSync(dir).forEach(file => {
-            if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, file)).isDirectory() ) {
-                filelist.push(path.join(dir, file));
-                getAllDirs(path.join(dir, file), filelist);
+            try {
+                if (fs.statSync(path.join(dir, file)).isDirectory() ) {
+                    filelist.push(path.join(dir, file));
+                    getAllDirs(path.join(dir, file), filelist);
+                }
+            } catch (error) {
+                //should we raise an error?
             }
         });
         return filelist;