diff --git a/src/sftp.js b/src/sftp.js
index a76c1d3c8..69c5b1fe8 100644
--- a/src/sftp.js
+++ b/src/sftp.js
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ function rebuild(callback) {
             if (!app.manifest.addons['localstorage']) return;
 
             const hostDir = apps.getDataDir(app, app.dataDir), mountDir = `/app/data/${app.id}`;
-            if (!safe.fs.existsSync(hostDir)) {
+            if (!safe.fs.existsSync(hostDir)) { // this can fail if external mount does not have permissions for yellowtent user
                 // do not create host path when cloudron is restoring. this will then create dir with root perms making restore logic fail
-                debug(`Ignoring volume for ${app.id} since it does not exist`);
+                debug(`Ignoring app data dir ${hostDir} for ${app.id} since it does not exist`);
                 return;
             }