diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/DirectIOFile.cpp b/Source/Core/Common/DirectIOFile.cpp
index d5e805529de..d72e98fa3bb 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/DirectIOFile.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/DirectIOFile.cpp
@@ -121,29 +121,20 @@ bool DirectIOFile::Open(const std::string& path, AccessMode access_mode, OpenMod
     else if (access_mode == AccessMode::Write)
       open_mode_str = "w";
 
-    // FYI: File::Exists can be slow on Android.
-    Common::Lazy<bool> file_exists{[&] { return Exists(path); }};
+    if (open_mode == OpenMode::Truncate)
+      open_mode_str += 't';
 
-    // A few features are emulated in a non-atomic manner.
-    if (open_mode == OpenMode::Existing)
+    if (open_mode == OpenMode::Create)
     {
-      if (access_mode != AccessMode::Read && !*file_exists)
-        return false;
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      if (open_mode == OpenMode::Truncate)
-        open_mode_str += 't';
-      else if (open_mode == OpenMode::Create && *file_exists)
-        return false;
-
-      // Modes other than `Existing` may create a file, but "r" won't do that automatically.
-      if (access_mode == AccessMode::Read && !*file_exists)
-        CreateEmptyFile(path);
+      ASSERT_MSG(COMMON, false, "DirectIOFile doesn't support creating SAF files");
+      return false;
     }
 
     m_fd = OpenAndroidContent(path, open_mode_str);
 
+    if (!IsOpen() && (open_mode == OpenMode::Always || open_mode == OpenMode::Truncate))
+      ASSERT_MSG(COMMON, Exists(path), "DirectIOFile doesn't support creating SAF files");
+
     return IsOpen();
   }
 #endif