diff --git a/man/systemd.path.xml b/man/systemd.path.xml
index cc2d366198..1975142d2c 100644
--- a/man/systemd.path.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.path.xml
@@ -88,16 +88,15 @@
                 point in the file system hierarchy, a dependency
                 between both units is created automatically.</para>
 
-                <para>Unless <varname>DefaultDependencies=</varname>
-                is set to <option>false</option>, path units will
-                implicitly have dependencies of type
-                <varname>Conflicts=</varname> and
+                <para>Unless <varname>DefaultDependencies=false</varname>
+                is used, path units will implicitly have dependencies of
+                type <varname>Conflicts=</varname> and
                 <varname>Before=</varname> on
                 <filename>shutdown.target</filename>. These ensure
                 that path units are terminated cleanly prior to system
                 shutdown. Only path units involved with early boot or
-                late system shutdown should disable this
-                option.</para>
+                late system shutdown should disable this option.
+                </para>
         </refsect1>
 
         <refsect1>
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@
                                 assignments of these options will not
                                 have any effect.</para>
 
-                                <para>If a path is already existing
+                                <para>If a path already exists
                                 (in case of
                                 <varname>PathExists=</varname> and
                                 <varname>PathExistsGlob=</varname>) or
@@ -168,7 +167,15 @@
                                 activated, then the configured unit is
                                 immediately activated as
                                 well. Something similar does not apply
-                                to <varname>PathChanged=</varname>.
+                                to <varname>PathChanged=</varname> and
+                                <varname>PathModified=</varname>.</para>
+
+                                <para>If the path itself or any of the
+                                containing directories are not
+                                accessible, <command>systemd</command>
+                                will watch for permission changes and
+                                notice that conditions are satisfied
+                                when permissions allow that.
                                 </para></listitem>
                         </varlistentry>
                         <varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/core/path.c b/src/core/path.c
index dcb3b1ff60..fc101280a1 100644
--- a/src/core/path.c
+++ b/src/core/path.c
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ int path_spec_watch(PathSpec *s, Unit *u) {
         s->primary_wd = inotify_add_watch(s->inotify_fd, k, flags_table[s->type]);
         if (s->primary_wd >= 0)
                 exists = true;
+        else if (errno != EACCES && errno != ENOENT) {
+                log_error("Failed to add watch on %s: %m", k);
+                r = -errno;
+                goto fail;
+        }
 
         do {
                 int flags;
@@ -97,8 +102,20 @@ int path_spec_watch(PathSpec *s, Unit *u) {
 
                 if (inotify_add_watch(s->inotify_fd, k, flags) >= 0)
                         exists = true;
+                else if (errno != EACCES && errno != ENOENT) {
+                        log_error("Failed to add watch on %s: %m", k);
+                        r = -errno;
+                        goto fail;
+                }
         } while (slash != k);
 
+        if (!exists) {
+                log_error("Failed to add watch on any of the components of %s: %m",
+                          s->path);
+                r = -errno;
+                goto fail;
+        }
+
         return 0;
 
 fail: