diff --git a/Koha/File/Transport/Local.pm b/Koha/File/Transport/Local.pm
index 14838b5eaf..c332b2f26f 100644
--- a/Koha/File/Transport/Local.pm
+++ b/Koha/File/Transport/Local.pm
@@ -138,14 +138,10 @@ sub _upload_file {
 
     my $upload_dir = $self->_working_directory('upload_directory');
     unless ( defined $upload_dir ) {
-        $self->add_message(
-            {
-                message => $operation,
-                type    => 'error',
-                payload => { error => 'No upload directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
-            }
+        return $self->_abort_operation(
+            $operation,
+            { error => 'No upload directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
         );
-        return;
     }
 
     my $destination = File::Spec->catfile( $upload_dir, $remote_file );
@@ -185,14 +181,10 @@ sub _download_file {
 
     my $download_dir = $self->_working_directory('download_directory');
     unless ( defined $download_dir ) {
-        $self->add_message(
-            {
-                message => $operation,
-                type    => 'error',
-                payload => { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
-            }
+        return $self->_abort_operation(
+            $operation,
+            { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
         );
-        return;
     }
 
     my $source = File::Spec->catfile( $download_dir, $remote_file );
@@ -296,14 +288,10 @@ sub _list_files {
 
     my $directory = $self->_working_directory('download_directory');
     unless ( defined $directory ) {
-        $self->add_message(
-            {
-                message => $operation,
-                type    => 'error',
-                payload => { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
-            }
+        return $self->_abort_operation(
+            $operation,
+            { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
         );
-        return;
     }
 
     unless ( -d $directory ) {
@@ -387,14 +375,10 @@ sub _rename_file {
 
     my $directory = $self->_working_directory('download_directory');
     unless ( defined $directory ) {
-        $self->add_message(
-            {
-                message => $operation,
-                type    => 'error',
-                payload => { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
-            }
+        return $self->_abort_operation(
+            $operation,
+            { error => 'No download directory configured or set via change_directory()' }
         );
-        return;
     }
 
     my $old_path = File::Spec->catfile( $directory, $old_name );
diff --git a/t/db_dependent/Koha/File/Transport/Local.t b/t/db_dependent/Koha/File/Transport/Local.t
index c4a83f5d59..348aaad6d4 100755
--- a/t/db_dependent/Koha/File/Transport/Local.t
+++ b/t/db_dependent/Koha/File/Transport/Local.t
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ subtest 'current_directory() tests' => sub {
 };
 
 subtest 'an unconfigured directory fails cleanly instead of falling back to "." (the Koha process cwd)' => sub {
-    plan tests => 8;
+    plan tests => 10;
 
     $schema->storage->txn_begin;
 
@@ -151,6 +151,11 @@ subtest 'an unconfigured directory fails cleanly instead of falling back to "."
         'error explains the directory is unconfigured, rather than silently listing an unrelated directory'
     );
 
+    my $reloaded         = Koha::File::Transports->find( $transport->id );
+    my $persisted_status = decode_json( $reloaded->status );
+    is( $persisted_status->{status}, 'errors', 'a "not configured" error also persists an "errors" status' );
+    is( $persisted_status->{operations}[-1]{code}, 'list', 'persisted status records the failing operation' );
+
     my $renamed = $transport->rename_file( 'a.txt', 'b.txt' );
     is( $renamed, undef, 'rename_file() fails the same way when no download_directory is configured' );