obj_req->state = COMPLETE;
 
        /* Use alternates if necessary */
-       if (obj_req->http_code == 404) {
+       if (obj_req->http_code == 404 ||
+           obj_req->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
                fetch_alternates(alt->base);
                if (obj_req->repo->next != NULL) {
                        obj_req->repo =
                        }
                }
        } else if (slot->curl_result != CURLE_OK) {
-               if (slot->http_code != 404) {
+               if (slot->http_code != 404 &&
+                   slot->curl_result != CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
                        got_alternates = -1;
                        return;
                }
        if (start_active_slot(slot)) {
                run_active_slot(slot);
                if (slot->curl_result != CURLE_OK) {
-                       if (slot->http_code == 404) {
+                       if (slot->http_code == 404 ||
+                           slot->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE) {
                                repo->got_indices = 1;
                                free(buffer.buffer);
                                return 0;
                ret = error("Request for %s aborted", hex);
        } else if (obj_req->curl_result != CURLE_OK &&
                   obj_req->http_code != 416) {
-               if (obj_req->http_code == 404)
+               if (obj_req->http_code == 404 ||
+                   obj_req->curl_result == CURLE_FILE_COULDNT_READ_FILE)
                        ret = -1; /* Be silent, it is probably in a pack. */
                else
                        ret = error("%s (curl_result = %d, http_code = %ld, sha1 = %s)",