diff --git a/src/core/tools/ReadFileTool.ts b/src/core/tools/ReadFileTool.ts
index 11c1e077997..363e6065073 100644
--- a/src/core/tools/ReadFileTool.ts
+++ b/src/core/tools/ReadFileTool.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ export class ReadFileTool extends BaseTool<"read_file"> {
 								error: errorMsg,
 								xmlContent: `<file><path>${relPath}</path><error>Error reading file: ${errorMsg}</error></file>`,
 							})
-							await handleError(`reading file ${relPath}`, new Error(errorMsg))
+							await task.say("error", `Error reading file ${relPath}: ${errorMsg}`)
 							hasRangeError = true
 							break
 						}
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export class ReadFileTool extends BaseTool<"read_file"> {
 								error: errorMsg,
 								xmlContent: `<file><path>${relPath}</path><error>Error reading file: ${errorMsg}</error></file>`,
 							})
-							await handleError(`reading file ${relPath}`, new Error(errorMsg))
+							await task.say("error", `Error reading file ${relPath}: ${errorMsg}`)
 							hasRangeError = true
 							break
 						}
@@ -363,10 +363,7 @@ export class ReadFileTool extends BaseTool<"read_file"> {
 									error: `Error reading image file: ${errorMsg}`,
 									xmlContent: `<file><path>${relPath}</path><error>Error reading image file: ${errorMsg}</error></file>`,
 								})
-								await handleError(
-									`reading image file ${relPath}`,
-									error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(errorMsg),
-								)
+								await task.say("error", `Error reading image file ${relPath}: ${errorMsg}`)
 								continue
 							}
 						}
@@ -498,7 +495,7 @@ export class ReadFileTool extends BaseTool<"read_file"> {
 						error: `Error reading file: ${errorMsg}`,
 						xmlContent: `<file><path>${relPath}</path><error>Error reading file: ${errorMsg}</error></file>`,
 					})
-					await handleError(`reading file ${relPath}`, error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(errorMsg))
+					await task.say("error", `Error reading file ${relPath}: ${errorMsg}`)
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -570,7 +567,7 @@ export class ReadFileTool extends BaseTool<"read_file"> {
 				})
 			}
 
-			await handleError(`reading file ${relPath}`, error instanceof Error ? error : new Error(errorMsg))
+			await task.say("error", `Error reading file ${relPath}: ${errorMsg}`)
 
 			const xmlResults = fileResults.filter((result) => result.xmlContent).map((result) => result.xmlContent)
 
diff --git a/src/core/tools/__tests__/readFileTool.spec.ts b/src/core/tools/__tests__/readFileTool.spec.ts
index bff1f6c58f4..a81906718b9 100644
--- a/src/core/tools/__tests__/readFileTool.spec.ts
+++ b/src/core/tools/__tests__/readFileTool.spec.ts
@@ -1602,10 +1602,7 @@ describe("read_file tool with image support", () => {
 			// Setup - simulate read error
 			mockedFsReadFile.mockRejectedValue(new Error("Failed to read image"))
 
-			// Create a spy for handleError
-			const handleErrorSpy = vi.fn()
-
-			// Execute with the spy
+			// Execute
 			const argsContent = `<file><path>${testImagePath}</path></file>`
 			const toolUse: ReadFileToolUse = {
 				type: "tool_use",
@@ -1616,7 +1613,7 @@ describe("read_file tool with image support", () => {
 
 			await readFileTool.handle(localMockCline, toolUse, {
 				askApproval: localMockCline.ask,
-				handleError: handleErrorSpy, // Use our spy here
+				handleError: vi.fn(),
 				pushToolResult: (result: ToolResponse) => {
 					toolResult = result
 				},
@@ -1625,7 +1622,8 @@ describe("read_file tool with image support", () => {
 
 			// Verify error handling
 			expect(toolResult).toContain("<error>Error reading image file: Failed to read image</error>")
-			expect(handleErrorSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+			// Verify that say was called to show error to user
+			expect(localMockCline.say).toHaveBeenCalledWith("error", expect.stringContaining("Failed to read image"))
 		})
 	})