diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/engine/index.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/engine/index.ts
index f40c7b61fb..a8b4e4d1de 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/engine/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/engine/index.ts
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class TransferEngine<
     });
   }
 
-  #emitTransferUpdate(type: 'start' | 'finish' | 'error', payload?: object) {
+  #emitTransferUpdate(type: 'init' | 'start' | 'finish' | 'error', payload?: object) {
     this.progress.stream.emit(`transfer::${type}`, payload);
   }
 
@@ -336,9 +336,8 @@ class TransferEngine<
     // reset data between transfers
     this.progress.data = {};
 
-    this.#emitTransferUpdate('start');
-
     try {
+      this.#emitTransferUpdate('init');
       await this.bootstrap();
       await this.init();
 
@@ -351,6 +350,8 @@ class TransferEngine<
         );
       }
 
+      this.#emitTransferUpdate('start');
+
       await this.beforeTransfer();
 
       // Run the transfer stages
diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/providers/local-file-source-provider/index.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/providers/local-file-source-provider/index.ts
index 8904817982..ff078043dd 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/providers/local-file-source-provider/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/lib/providers/local-file-source-provider/index.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ class LocalFileSourceProvider implements ISourceProvider {
 
   options: ILocalFileSourceProviderOptions;
 
+  #metadata?: IMetadata;
+
   constructor(options: ILocalFileSourceProviderOptions) {
     this.options = options;
 
@@ -60,15 +62,16 @@ class LocalFileSourceProvider implements ISourceProvider {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Pre flight checks regarding the provided options (making sure that the provided path is correct, etc...)
+   * Pre flight checks regarding the provided options, making sure that the file can be opened (decrypted, decompressed), etc.
    */
   async bootstrap() {
     const { path: filePath } = this.options.file;
+
     try {
-      // This is only to show a nicer error, it doesn't ensure the file will still exist when we try to open it later
-      await fs.access(filePath, fs.constants.R_OK);
+      // Read the metadata to ensure the file can be parsed
+      this.#metadata = await this.getMetadata();
     } catch (e) {
-      throw new Error(`Can't access file "${filePath}".`);
+      throw new Error(`Can't read file "${filePath}".`);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/export.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/export.js
index e0c0de6d79..7c3a017063 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/export.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/export.js
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@ module.exports = async (opts) => {
     },
   });
 
-  logger.log(`Starting export...`);
-
   const progress = engine.progress.stream;
 
   const getTelemetryPayload = (/* payload */) => {
@@ -88,6 +86,7 @@ module.exports = async (opts) => {
   };
 
   progress.on('transfer::start', async () => {
+    logger.log(`Starting export...`);
     await strapi.telemetry.send('didDEITSProcessStart', getTelemetryPayload());
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/import.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/import.js
index 2140f56ece..4bb3e4a63e 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/import.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/import.js
@@ -77,9 +77,8 @@ module.exports = async (opts) => {
       ],
     },
   };
-  const engine = createTransferEngine(source, destination, engineOptions);
 
-  logger.info('Starting import...');
+  const engine = createTransferEngine(source, destination, engineOptions);
 
   const progress = engine.progress.stream;
   const getTelemetryPayload = () => {
@@ -92,6 +91,7 @@ module.exports = async (opts) => {
   };
 
   progress.on('transfer::start', async () => {
+    logger.info('Starting import...');
     await strapiInstance.telemetry.send('didDEITSProcessStart', getTelemetryPayload());
   });