diff --git a/renku/ui/cli/run.py b/renku/ui/cli/run.py
index 856800d17d..35ebb17b02 100644
--- a/renku/ui/cli/run.py
+++ b/renku/ui/cli/run.py
@@ -562,10 +562,10 @@ def is_workflow_file() -> bool:
             return False
 
         path = Path(command_line[0])
-        if not path.is_file() or not is_subpath(path=path, base=project_context.path):
-            return False
         if path.suffix.lower() in [".yml", ".yaml"] and not os.access(path, os.X_OK):
             return True
+        if not path.is_file() or not is_subpath(path=path, base=project_context.path):
+            return False
 
         try:
             content = read_workflow_file(path=path)
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_workflow_file.py b/tests/cli/test_workflow_file.py
index 288bd2654d..e6af095957 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_workflow_file.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_workflow_file.py
@@ -82,6 +82,15 @@ def test_run_workflow_file_with_selected_steps(runner, workflow_file_project):
     assert not (workflow_file_project.path / "results" / "output.csv.wc").exists()
 
 
+def test_run_non_existing_workflow_file(runner, workflow_file_project):
+    """Test running a non-existing workflow file gives proper error if file has YAML extension."""
+    result = runner.invoke(cli, ["run", "non-existing-workflow-file.yml"])
+
+    assert 2 == result.exit_code, format_result_exception(result)
+
+    assert "No such file or directory: 'non-existing-workflow-file.yml'" in result.output
+
+
 def test_run_workflow_file_with_no_commit(runner, workflow_file_project):
     """Test running a workflow file with ``--no-commit`` option."""
     commit_before = workflow_file_project.repository.head.commit.hexsha