diff --git a/scipaperloader/blueprints/config.py b/scipaperloader/blueprints/config.py
index 4808cce..43d7e65 100644
--- a/scipaperloader/blueprints/config.py
+++ b/scipaperloader/blueprints/config.py
@@ -70,25 +70,31 @@ def _update_download_path(new_path):
             # Try to create it if it doesn't exist
             try:
                 os.makedirs(new_path, exist_ok=True)
-                ActivityLog.log_system_activity(
+                ActivityLog.log_scraper_activity(
                     action="create_directory",
                     status="info",
                     description=f"Created download directory: {new_path}"
                 )
             except OSError as e:
-                ActivityLog.log_system_activity(
-                    action="create_directory",
-                    status="error",
-                    description=f"Failed to create download directory: {new_path}, Error: {str(e)}"
+                ActivityLog.log_error(
+                    error_message=f"Failed to create download directory: {new_path}, Error: {str(e)}",
+                    source="update_download_path"
                 )
                 return False, f"Path '{new_path}' is not a valid directory and could not be created: {e}", None
         
+        # Check if the path is readable
+        if not os.access(new_path, os.R_OK):
+            ActivityLog.log_error(
+                error_message=f"Download path '{new_path}' is not readable.",
+                source="check_directory_permissions"
+            )
+            return False, f"Path '{new_path}' exists but is not readable by the application.", None
+            
         # Check if the path is writable
         if not os.access(new_path, os.W_OK):
-            ActivityLog.log_system_activity(
-                action="check_directory_permissions",
-                status="error",
-                description=f"Download path '{new_path}' is not writable."
+            ActivityLog.log_error(
+                error_message=f"Download path '{new_path}' is not writable.",
+                source="check_directory_permissions"
             )
             return False, f"Path '{new_path}' exists but is not writable by the application.", None
         # --- End of validation ---
diff --git a/scipaperloader/scrapers/dummy.py b/scipaperloader/scrapers/dummy.py
index 6ab671b..2192bda 100644
--- a/scipaperloader/scrapers/dummy.py
+++ b/scipaperloader/scrapers/dummy.py
@@ -37,8 +37,72 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
             file_name = f"{doi.replace('/', '_')}.pdf"
             file_path = f"{download_path}/{file_name}"
             
-            # Create directory if it doesn't exist
-            os.makedirs(download_path, exist_ok=True)
+            # Check if the path is readable and writable
+            if not os.path.exists(download_path):
+                try:
+                    # Create directory if it doesn't exist
+                    os.makedirs(download_path, exist_ok=True)
+                except OSError as e:
+                    error_msg = f"Failed to create download directory: {str(e)}"
+                    paper.status = "Failed"
+                    paper.error_msg = error_msg
+                    
+                    ActivityLog.log_scraper_activity(
+                        action="dummy_scrape_path_error",
+                        status="error",
+                        description=error_msg,
+                        paper_id=paper.id
+                    )
+                    
+                    return ScrapeResult(
+                        status="error",
+                        message=error_msg,
+                        data={"error_code": "path_creation_error"},
+                        duration=time.time() - start_time,
+                        timestamp=datetime.utcnow()
+                    )
+            
+            # Check if the path is readable
+            if not os.access(download_path, os.R_OK):
+                error_msg = f"Download path '{download_path}' is not readable"
+                paper.status = "Failed"
+                paper.error_msg = error_msg
+                
+                ActivityLog.log_scraper_activity(
+                    action="dummy_scrape_path_error",
+                    status="error",
+                    description=error_msg,
+                    paper_id=paper.id
+                )
+                
+                return ScrapeResult(
+                    status="error",
+                    message=error_msg,
+                    data={"error_code": "path_read_error"},
+                    duration=time.time() - start_time,
+                    timestamp=datetime.utcnow()
+                )
+            
+            # Check if the path is writable
+            if not os.access(download_path, os.W_OK):
+                error_msg = f"Download path '{download_path}' is not writable"
+                paper.status = "Failed"
+                paper.error_msg = error_msg
+                
+                ActivityLog.log_scraper_activity(
+                    action="dummy_scrape_path_error",
+                    status="error",
+                    description=error_msg,
+                    paper_id=paper.id
+                )
+                
+                return ScrapeResult(
+                    status="error",
+                    message=error_msg,
+                    data={"error_code": "path_write_error"},
+                    duration=time.time() - start_time,
+                    timestamp=datetime.utcnow()
+                )
             
             # Create a simple dummy PDF file
             try: