diff --git a/include/openPMD/Error.hpp b/include/openPMD/Error.hpp
index c6222f5af8..2b8c727e16 100644
--- a/include/openPMD/Error.hpp
+++ b/include/openPMD/Error.hpp
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ namespace error
         NotFound,
         CannotRead,
         UnexpectedContent,
+        Inaccessible,
         Other
     };
 
diff --git a/src/Iteration.cpp b/src/Iteration.cpp
index 498f3d069c..0f68e17ddb 100644
--- a/src/Iteration.cpp
+++ b/src/Iteration.cpp
@@ -572,6 +572,17 @@ void Iteration::readMeshes(std::string const &meshesPath)
             mrc.get().m_isConstant = true;
         }
         m.read();
+        try
+        {
+            m.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read mesh with name '" << mesh_name
+                      << "' and will skip it due to read error:\n"
+                      << err.what() << std::endl;
+            map.forget(mesh_name);
+        }
     }
 
     /* obtain all scalar meshes */
@@ -593,7 +604,17 @@ void Iteration::readMeshes(std::string const &meshesPath)
         mrc.written() = false;
         mrc.resetDataset(Dataset(*dOpen.dtype, *dOpen.extent));
         mrc.written() = true;
-        m.read();
+        try
+        {
+            m.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read mesh with name '" << mesh_name
+                      << "' and will skip it due to read error:\n"
+                      << err.what() << std::endl;
+            map.forget(mesh_name);
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -619,7 +640,18 @@ void Iteration::readParticles(std::string const &particlesPath)
         pOpen.path = species_name;
         IOHandler()->enqueue(IOTask(&p, pOpen));
         IOHandler()->flush(internal::defaultFlushParams);
-        p.read();
+        try
+        {
+            p.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read particle species with name '"
+                      << species_name
+                      << "' and will skip it due to read error:\n"
+                      << err.what() << std::endl;
+            map.forget(species_name);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Mesh.cpp b/src/Mesh.cpp
index b90ea0b792..24cf63ec11 100644
--- a/src/Mesh.cpp
+++ b/src/Mesh.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
  * and the GNU Lesser General Public License along with openPMD-api.
  * If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
+
 #include "openPMD/Mesh.hpp"
+#include "openPMD/Error.hpp"
 #include "openPMD/Series.hpp"
 #include "openPMD/auxiliary/DerefDynamicCast.hpp"
 #include "openPMD/auxiliary/StringManip.hpp"
@@ -294,7 +296,10 @@ void Mesh::read()
             setGeometry(tmpGeometry);
     }
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'geometry'");
 
     aRead.name = "dataOrder";
@@ -310,11 +315,17 @@ void Mesh::read()
         if (tmpDataOrder.size() == 1)
             setDataOrder(static_cast<DataOrder>(tmpDataOrder[0]));
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected Attribute value for 'dataOrder': " + tmpDataOrder);
     }
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'dataOrder'");
 
     aRead.name = "axisLabels";
@@ -324,7 +335,10 @@ void Mesh::read()
         setAxisLabels(
             Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<std::vector<std::string> >());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'axisLabels'");
 
     aRead.name = "gridSpacing";
@@ -339,7 +353,10 @@ void Mesh::read()
         *aRead.dtype == DT::VEC_LONG_DOUBLE || *aRead.dtype == DT::LONG_DOUBLE)
         setGridSpacing(a.get<std::vector<long double> >());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'gridSpacing'");
 
     aRead.name = "gridGlobalOffset";
@@ -349,7 +366,10 @@ void Mesh::read()
         setGridGlobalOffset(
             Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<std::vector<double> >());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'gridGlobalOffset'");
 
     aRead.name = "gridUnitSI";
@@ -358,7 +378,10 @@ void Mesh::read()
     if (*aRead.dtype == DT::DOUBLE)
         setGridUnitSI(Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<double>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'gridUnitSI'");
 
     if (scalar())
diff --git a/src/ParticlePatches.cpp b/src/ParticlePatches.cpp
index 76017bbf94..5722ccddd5 100644
--- a/src/ParticlePatches.cpp
+++ b/src/ParticlePatches.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
  * and the GNU Lesser General Public License along with openPMD-api.
  * If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
+
 #include "openPMD/ParticlePatches.hpp"
+#include "openPMD/Error.hpp"
 
 namespace openPMD
 {
@@ -43,7 +45,17 @@ void ParticlePatches::read()
         PatchRecord &pr = (*this)[record_name];
         pOpen.path = record_name;
         IOHandler()->enqueue(IOTask(&pr, pOpen));
-        pr.read();
+        try
+        {
+            pr.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read patch record '" << record_name
+                      << "' due to read error and will skip it:" << err.what()
+                      << std::endl;
+            this->container().erase(record_name);
+        }
     }
 
     Parameter<Operation::LIST_DATASETS> dList;
@@ -55,9 +67,13 @@ void ParticlePatches::read()
     {
         if (!("numParticles" == component_name ||
               "numParticlesOffset" == component_name))
-            throw std::runtime_error(
-                "Unexpected record component" + component_name +
-                "in particlePatch");
+        {
+
+            std::cerr << "Unexpected record component" + component_name +
+                    "in particlePatch. Will ignore it."
+                      << std::endl;
+            continue;
+        }
 
         PatchRecord &pr = Container<PatchRecord>::operator[](component_name);
         PatchRecordComponent &prc = pr[RecordComponent::SCALAR];
@@ -68,7 +84,10 @@ void ParticlePatches::read()
         IOHandler()->flush(internal::defaultFlushParams);
 
         if (determineDatatype<uint64_t>() != *dOpen.dtype)
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected datatype for " + component_name);
 
         /* allow all attributes to be set */
@@ -77,7 +96,18 @@ void ParticlePatches::read()
         prc.written() = true;
 
         pr.dirty() = false;
-        prc.read();
+        try
+        {
+            prc.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr
+                << "Cannot read record component '" << component_name
+                << "' in particle patch and will skip it due to read error:\n"
+                << err.what() << std::endl;
+            Container<PatchRecord>::container().erase(component_name);
+        }
     }
 }
 } // namespace openPMD
diff --git a/src/ParticleSpecies.cpp b/src/ParticleSpecies.cpp
index 1bf9f90661..903cd236d2 100644
--- a/src/ParticleSpecies.cpp
+++ b/src/ParticleSpecies.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,17 @@ void ParticleSpecies::read()
             hasParticlePatches = true;
             pOpen.path = "particlePatches";
             IOHandler()->enqueue(IOTask(&particlePatches, pOpen));
-            particlePatches.read();
+            try
+            {
+                particlePatches.read();
+            }
+            catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "Cannot read particle patches and will skip them "
+                             "due to read error:\n"
+                          << err.what() << std::endl;
+                hasParticlePatches = false;
+            }
         }
         else
         {
@@ -76,7 +86,20 @@ void ParticleSpecies::read()
                 IOHandler()->flush(internal::defaultFlushParams);
                 rc.get().m_isConstant = true;
             }
-            r.read();
+            try
+            {
+                r.read();
+            }
+            catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "Cannot read particle record '" << record_name
+                          << "' and will skip it due to read error:\n"
+                          << err.what() << std::endl;
+
+                map.forget(record_name);
+                //(*this)[record_name].erase(RecordComponent::SCALAR);
+                // this->erase(record_name);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Record.cpp b/src/Record.cpp
index 21d0596dc8..e9967af024 100644
--- a/src/Record.cpp
+++ b/src/Record.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,18 @@ void Record::read()
     if (scalar())
     {
         /* using operator[] will incorrectly update parent */
-        this->at(RecordComponent::SCALAR).read();
+        auto &scalarComponent = this->at(RecordComponent::SCALAR);
+        try
+        {
+            scalarComponent.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read scalar record component and will skip it "
+                         "due to read error:\n"
+                      << err.what() << std::endl;
+            this->container().erase(RecordComponent::SCALAR);
+        }
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/RecordComponent.cpp b/src/RecordComponent.cpp
index 9e7a93e6ea..531ba95f24 100644
--- a/src/RecordComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/RecordComponent.cpp
@@ -356,7 +356,11 @@ void RecordComponent::readBase()
             makeConstant(a.get<bool>());
             break;
         default:
-            throw std::runtime_error("Unexpected constant datatype");
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
+                "Unexpected constant datatype");
         }
         written() = true;
 
@@ -378,7 +382,11 @@ void RecordComponent::readBase()
             oss << "Unexpected datatype (" << *aRead.dtype
                 << ") for attribute 'shape' (" << determineDatatype<uint64_t>()
                 << " aka uint64_t)";
-            throw std::runtime_error(oss.str());
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
+                oss.str());
         }
 
         written() = false;
@@ -392,7 +400,11 @@ void RecordComponent::readBase()
     if (*aRead.dtype == DT::DOUBLE)
         setUnitSI(Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<double>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error("Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'unitSI'");
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
+            "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'unitSI'");
 
     readAttributes(ReadMode::FullyReread);
 }
diff --git a/src/Series.cpp b/src/Series.cpp
index 685c972f7d..2eea1f4d56 100644
--- a/src/Series.cpp
+++ b/src/Series.cpp
@@ -918,7 +918,10 @@ void Series::readFileBased()
     fOpen.encoding = iterationEncoding();
 
     if (!auxiliary::directory_exists(IOHandler()->directory))
-        throw no_such_file_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Other,
+            error::Reason::Inaccessible,
+            {},
             "Supplied directory is not valid: " + IOHandler()->directory);
 
     auto isPartOfSeries = matcher(
@@ -942,7 +945,11 @@ void Series::readFileBased()
          * parameter modification. Backend access type stays unchanged for the
          * lifetime of a Series. */
         if (IOHandler()->m_backendAccess == Access::READ_ONLY)
-            throw no_such_file_error("No matching iterations found: " + name());
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Other,
+                error::Reason::Inaccessible,
+                {},
+                "No matching iterations found: " + name());
         else
             std::cerr << "No matching iterations found: " << name()
                       << std::endl;
@@ -994,7 +1001,10 @@ void Series::readFileBased()
         }
         if (!atLeastOneIterationSuccessful)
         {
-            throw error::ParseError(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Other,
+                error::Reason::Other,
+                {},
                 "Not a single iteration can be successfully parsed (see above "
                 "errors). Need to access at least one iteration even in "
                 "deferred parsing mode in order to read global Series "
@@ -1020,7 +1030,10 @@ void Series::readFileBased()
         }
         if (!atLeastOneIterationSuccessful)
         {
-            throw error::ParseError(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Other,
+                error::Reason::Other,
+                {},
                 "Not a single iteration can be successfully parsed (see above "
                 "warnings).");
         }
@@ -1082,14 +1095,21 @@ void Series::readOneIterationFileBased(std::string const &filePath)
              * Unlike if the file were group-based, this one doesn't work
              * at all since the group paths are different.
              */
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Other,
+                error::Reason::Other,
+                {},
                 "Series constructor called with iteration "
                 "regex '%T' suggests loading a "
                 "time series with fileBased iteration "
                 "encoding. Loaded file is variableBased.");
         }
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error("Unknown iterationEncoding: " + encoding);
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
+                "Unknown iterationEncoding: " + encoding);
         setAttribute("iterationEncoding", encoding);
     }
     else
@@ -1107,7 +1127,10 @@ void Series::readOneIterationFileBased(std::string const &filePath)
         written() = true;
     }
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'iterationFormat'");
 
     Parameter<Operation::OPEN_PATH> pOpen;
@@ -1163,12 +1186,18 @@ std::optional<std::deque<uint64_t> > Series::readGorVBased(bool do_init)
                 series.m_overrideFilebasedFilename = series.m_name;
             }
             else
-                throw std::runtime_error(
+                throw error::ReadError(
+                    error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                    error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                    {},
                     "Unknown iterationEncoding: " + encoding);
             setAttribute("iterationEncoding", encoding);
         }
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'iterationEncoding'");
 
         aRead.name = "iterationFormat";
@@ -1181,7 +1210,10 @@ std::optional<std::deque<uint64_t> > Series::readGorVBased(bool do_init)
             written() = true;
         }
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'iterationFormat'");
     }
 
@@ -1190,7 +1222,11 @@ std::optional<std::deque<uint64_t> > Series::readGorVBased(bool do_init)
     if (version == "1.0.0" || version == "1.0.1" || version == "1.1.0")
         pOpen.path = auxiliary::replace_first(basePath(), "/%T/", "");
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error("Unknown openPMD version - " + version);
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
+            "Unknown openPMD version - " + version);
     IOHandler()->enqueue(IOTask(&series.iterations, pOpen));
 
     readAttributes(ReadMode::IgnoreExisting);
@@ -1312,7 +1348,11 @@ std::optional<std::deque<uint64_t> > Series::readGorVBased(bool do_init)
                 std::stringstream s;
                 s << "Unexpected datatype for '/data/snapshot': "
                   << attribute.dtype << std::endl;
-                throw std::runtime_error(s.str());
+                throw error::ReadError(
+                    error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                    error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                    {},
+                    s.str());
             }
             }
         }
@@ -1397,7 +1437,11 @@ void Series::readBase()
     if (*aRead.dtype == DT::STRING)
         setOpenPMD(Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<std::string>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error("Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'openPMD'");
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
+            "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'openPMD'");
 
     aRead.name = "openPMDextension";
     IOHandler()->enqueue(IOTask(this, aRead));
@@ -1405,7 +1449,10 @@ void Series::readBase()
     if (*aRead.dtype == determineDatatype<uint32_t>())
         setOpenPMDextension(Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<uint32_t>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'openPMDextension'");
 
     aRead.name = "basePath";
@@ -1414,7 +1461,10 @@ void Series::readBase()
     if (*aRead.dtype == DT::STRING)
         setAttribute("basePath", Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<std::string>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'basePath'");
 
     Parameter<Operation::LIST_ATTS> aList;
@@ -1439,7 +1489,10 @@ void Series::readBase()
                 it.second.meshes.written() = true;
         }
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'meshesPath'");
     }
 
@@ -1463,7 +1516,10 @@ void Series::readBase()
                 it.second.particles.written() = true;
         }
         else
-            throw std::runtime_error(
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
                 "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'particlesPath'");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/Attributable.cpp b/src/backend/Attributable.cpp
index b73c850409..69e1c5ddc4 100644
--- a/src/backend/Attributable.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/Attributable.cpp
@@ -299,7 +299,10 @@ void Attributable::readAttributes(ReadMode mode)
                 // Some backends may report the wrong type when reading
                 if (vector.size() != 7)
                 {
-                    throw std::runtime_error(
+                    throw error::ReadError(
+                        error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                        error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                        {},
                         "[Attributable] "
                         "Unexpected datatype for unitDimension.");
                 }
@@ -529,7 +532,11 @@ void Attributable::readAttributes(ReadMode mode)
                 internal::SetAttributeMode::WhileReadingAttributes);
             break;
         case DT::UNDEFINED:
-            throw std::runtime_error("Invalid Attribute datatype during read");
+            throw error::ReadError(
+                error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+                error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+                {},
+                "Invalid Attribute datatype during read");
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/MeshRecordComponent.cpp b/src/backend/MeshRecordComponent.cpp
index 9602868a07..a3b29a705f 100644
--- a/src/backend/MeshRecordComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/MeshRecordComponent.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ void MeshRecordComponent::read()
         *aRead.dtype == DT::VEC_LONG_DOUBLE || *aRead.dtype == DT::LONG_DOUBLE)
         setPosition(a.get<std::vector<long double> >());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'position'");
 
     readBase();
diff --git a/src/backend/PatchRecord.cpp b/src/backend/PatchRecord.cpp
index f31b135b62..bf29ec4ba7 100644
--- a/src/backend/PatchRecord.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/PatchRecord.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ void PatchRecord::read()
             "unitDimension",
             Attribute(*aRead.resource).template get<std::array<double, 7> >());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error(
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
             "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'unitDimension'");
 
     Parameter<Operation::LIST_DATASETS> dList;
@@ -87,7 +90,18 @@ void PatchRecord::read()
         prc.written() = false;
         prc.resetDataset(Dataset(*dOpen.dtype, *dOpen.extent));
         prc.written() = true;
-        prc.read();
+        try
+        {
+            prc.read();
+        }
+        catch (error::ReadError const &err)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "Cannot read patch record component '"
+                      << component_name
+                      << "' and will skip it due to read error:" << err.what()
+                      << std::endl;
+            this->container().erase(component_name);
+        }
     }
     dirty() = false;
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/PatchRecordComponent.cpp b/src/backend/PatchRecordComponent.cpp
index a5178a9911..0b53de09ed 100644
--- a/src/backend/PatchRecordComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/PatchRecordComponent.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,11 @@ void PatchRecordComponent::read()
     if (*aRead.dtype == Datatype::DOUBLE)
         setUnitSI(Attribute(*aRead.resource).get<double>());
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error("Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'unitSI'");
+        throw error::ReadError(
+            error::AffectedObject::Attribute,
+            error::Reason::UnexpectedContent,
+            {},
+            "Unexpected Attribute datatype for 'unitSI'");
 
     readAttributes(ReadMode::FullyReread); // this will set dirty() = false
 }
diff --git a/test/ParallelIOTest.cpp b/test/ParallelIOTest.cpp
index 4f9c2acb3c..df9b47b531 100644
--- a/test/ParallelIOTest.cpp
+++ b/test/ParallelIOTest.cpp
@@ -271,10 +271,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_content_test", "[parallel][hdf5]")
                 REQUIRE(raw_ptr[i] == constant_value);
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -607,10 +611,14 @@ TEST_CASE("hzdr_adios_sample_content_test", "[parallel][adios1]")
                     REQUIRE(raw_ptr[j * 3 + k] == actual[rank][j][k]);
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/test/SerialIOTest.cpp b/test/SerialIOTest.cpp
index f3084113c4..3c89ef31d9 100644
--- a/test/SerialIOTest.cpp
+++ b/test/SerialIOTest.cpp
@@ -2334,9 +2334,16 @@ inline void optional_paths_110_test(const std::string &backend)
             REQUIRE(s.iterations[400].particles.empty());
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "issue sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "issue sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            throw;
+        }
     }
 
     {
@@ -2405,10 +2412,14 @@ void git_early_chunk_query(
             }
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -2445,9 +2456,16 @@ TEST_CASE("empty_alternate_fbpic", "[serial][hdf5]")
             helper::listSeries(list);
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "issue sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "issue sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            throw;
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -2634,10 +2652,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_structure_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
         int32_t i32 = 32;
         REQUIRE_THROWS(o.setAttribute("setAttributeFail", i32));
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 #else
     std::cerr << "Invasive tests not enabled. Hierarchy is not visible.\n";
@@ -2891,10 +2913,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_attribute_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
         REQUIRE(weighting_scalar.getDimensionality() == 1);
         REQUIRE(weighting_scalar.getExtent() == e);
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -2965,10 +2991,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_content_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
                 REQUIRE(raw_ptr[i] == constant_value);
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -2989,10 +3019,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_fileBased_read_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
         REQUIRE(o.get().m_filenamePadding == 8);
 #endif
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 
     try
@@ -3011,15 +3045,19 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_fileBased_read_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
         REQUIRE(o.get().m_filenamePadding == 8);
 #endif
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 
-    REQUIRE_THROWS_WITH(
+    REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
         Series("../samples/git-sample/data%07T.h5", Access::READ_ONLY),
-        Catch::Equals("No matching iterations found: data%07T"));
+        error::ReadError);
 
     try
     {
@@ -3056,10 +3094,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_fileBased_read_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
             auxiliary::remove_file(file);
         }
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -3136,10 +3178,14 @@ TEST_CASE("git_hdf5_sample_read_thetaMode", "[serial][hdf5][thetaMode]")
         auto data = B_z.loadChunk<double>(offset, extent);
         o.flush();
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "git sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -3609,10 +3655,13 @@ TEST_CASE("hzdr_hdf5_sample_content_test", "[serial][hdf5]")
         REQUIRE(
             isSame(e_offset_z.getDatatype(), determineDatatype<uint64_t>()));
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "HZDR sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "HZDR sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -3803,10 +3852,13 @@ TEST_CASE("hzdr_adios1_sample_content_test", "[serial][adios1]")
                 for (int c = 0; c < 3; ++c)
                     REQUIRE(raw_ptr[((a * 3) + b) * 3 + c] == actual[a][b][c]);
     }
-    catch (no_such_file_error &e)
+    catch (error::ReadError &e)
     {
-        std::cerr << "HZDR sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
-        return;
+        if (e.reason == error::Reason::Inaccessible)
+        {
+            std::cerr << "HZDR sample not accessible. (" << e.what() << ")\n";
+            return;
+        }
     }
 }