diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/screenDriver/vcsaDriver.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/screenDriver/vcsaDriver.py
index ca696534..516053c1 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/screenDriver/vcsaDriver.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/screenDriver/vcsaDriver.py
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ class driver(screenDriver):
     def updateWatchdog(self,active , eventQueue):
         try:
             useVCSU = os.access('/dev/vcsu', os.R_OK)
+            try:
+                with open('/dev/vcsu', 'rb') as vcsuDummyFile:
+                    d = vcsuDummyFile.read()
+            except:
+                useVCSU = False
             vcsa = {}
             vcsaDevices = glob.glob('/dev/vcsa*')
             vcsu = {}