diff --git a/PILOTVERSION b/PILOTVERSION
index fe6e3d7f..b53bc731 100644
--- a/PILOTVERSION
+++ b/PILOTVERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.7.4.2
\ No newline at end of file
+3.7.5.4
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pilot.py b/pilot.py
index 915e3c8c..ebd356b3 100755
--- a/pilot.py
+++ b/pilot.py
@@ -121,13 +121,19 @@ def main() -> int:
         )  # note: assuming IPv6, fallback in place
 
     # check cvmfs if available
-    if is_cvmfs_available() is True:  # ignore None, False is handled in function
+    is_available = is_cvmfs_available()
+    if is_available is None:
+        pass  # ignore this case
+    elif is_available is True:
         timestamp = get_last_update()
         if timestamp and timestamp > 0:
             logger.info('CVMFS has been validated')
         else:
             logger.warning('CVMFS is not responding - aborting pilot')
             return errors.CVMFSISNOTALIVE
+    else:
+        logger.warning('CVMFS is not alive - aborting pilot')
+        return errors.CVMFSISNOTALIVE
 
     if not args.rucio_host:
         args.rucio_host = config.Rucio.host
@@ -736,7 +742,7 @@ def get_proper_exit_code() -> (int, int):
     """
     try:
         exitcode = trace.pilot["error_code"]
-    except KeyError:
+    except (KeyError, AttributeError):
         exitcode = trace
         logging.debug(f"trace was not a class, trace={trace}")
     else:
diff --git a/pilot/util/constants.py b/pilot/util/constants.py
index da65ded0..6053694d 100644
--- a/pilot/util/constants.py
+++ b/pilot/util/constants.py
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 # Pilot version
 RELEASE = '3'   # released number should be fixed at 3 for Pilot 3
 VERSION = '7'   # version number is '1' for first release, '0' until then, increased for bigger updates
-REVISION = '4'  # revision number should be reset to '0' for every new version release, increased for small updates
-BUILD = '2'     # build number should be reset to '1' for every new development cycle
+REVISION = '5'  # revision number should be reset to '0' for every new version release, increased for small updates
+BUILD = '4'     # build number should be reset to '1' for every new development cycle
 
 SUCCESS = 0
 FAILURE = 1
diff --git a/pilot/util/cvmfs.py b/pilot/util/cvmfs.py
index a869d528..b2075d42 100644
--- a/pilot/util/cvmfs.py
+++ b/pilot/util/cvmfs.py
@@ -65,7 +65,19 @@ def is_cvmfs_available() -> bool or None:
             if get_base_path:
                 mount_point = mount_point.replace('CVMFS_BASE', get_base_path())
             if os.path.exists(mount_point):
-                logger.debug(f'CVMFS is available at {mount_point}')
+                # verify that the file can be opened
+                if 'lastUpdate' not in mount_point:  # skip directories
+                    logger.info(f'CVMFS is available at {mount_point}')
+                    continue
+                try:
+                    with open(mount_point, 'r'):
+                        pass
+                except Exception as exc:
+                    logger.warning(f'failed to open file {mount_point}: {exc}')
+                    found_bad_mount_point = True
+                    break
+                else:
+                    logger.info(f'CVMFS is available at {mount_point} (and could be opened)')
             else:
                 logger.warning(f'CVMFS is not available at {mount_point}')
                 found_bad_mount_point = True
@@ -103,7 +115,7 @@ def get_last_update() -> int:
                 now = int(time.time())
                 logger.info(f'last cvmfs update on '
                             f'{time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", time.gmtime(timestamp))} '
-                            f'{now - timestamp} seconds ago {timestamp}()')
+                            f'{now - timestamp} seconds ago ({timestamp})')
         else:
             logger.warning(f'last update file does not exist: {last_update_file}')
     else: