diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
@@ -366,12 +366,14 @@
                 if line.startswith("rpcpassword="):
                     assert password is None  # Ensure that there is only one rpcpassword line
                     password = line.split("=")[1].strip("\n")
-    if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(datadir, "regtest", ".cookie")):
+    try:
         with open(os.path.join(datadir, "regtest", ".cookie"), 'r', encoding="ascii") as f:
             userpass = f.read()
             split_userpass = userpass.split(':')
             user = split_userpass[0]
             password = split_userpass[1]
+    except OSError:
+        pass
     if user is None or password is None:
         raise ValueError("No RPC credentials")
     return user, password