diff --git a/homeassistant/components/downloader/config_flow.py b/homeassistant/components/downloader/config_flow.py
index 27101630599..e7191e055a6 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/downloader/config_flow.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/downloader/config_flow.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class DownloaderConfigFlow(ConfigFlow, domain=DOMAIN):
             try:
                 await self._validate_input(user_input)
             except DirectoryDoesNotExist:
-                errors["base"] = "cannot_connect"
+                errors["base"] = "directory_does_not_exist"
             else:
                 return self.async_create_entry(title=DEFAULT_NAME, data=user_input)
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/downloader/strings.json b/homeassistant/components/downloader/strings.json
index 4cadabf96c6..cf962bd9713 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/downloader/strings.json
+++ b/homeassistant/components/downloader/strings.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
       }
     },
     "error": {
-      "cannot_connect": "The directory could not be reached. Please check your settings."
+      "directory_does_not_exist": "The directory could not be reached. Please check your settings."
     },
     "abort": {
       "single_instance_allowed": "[%key:common::config_flow::abort::single_instance_allowed%]"
diff --git a/tests/components/downloader/test_config_flow.py b/tests/components/downloader/test_config_flow.py
index b561fae98e9..132b83dffdf 100644
--- a/tests/components/downloader/test_config_flow.py
+++ b/tests/components/downloader/test_config_flow.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 import pytest
 
 from homeassistant import config_entries
-from homeassistant.components.downloader.config_flow import DirectoryDoesNotExist
 from homeassistant.components.downloader.const import CONF_DOWNLOAD_DIR, DOMAIN
 from homeassistant.config_entries import SOURCE_IMPORT, SOURCE_USER
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant
@@ -21,39 +20,35 @@ async def test_user_form(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
     result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_init(
         DOMAIN, context={"source": SOURCE_USER}
     )
+    result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_configure(
+        result["flow_id"],
+        user_input=CONFIG,
+    )
+    assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.FORM
 
-    with patch(
-        "homeassistant.components.downloader.async_setup_entry",
-        return_value=True,
-    ):
+    with patch("os.path.isdir", return_value=False):
         result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_configure(
             result["flow_id"],
             user_input=CONFIG,
         )
         assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.FORM
-
-        with patch(
-            "homeassistant.components.downloader.config_flow.DownloaderConfigFlow._validate_input",
-            side_effect=DirectoryDoesNotExist,
-        ):
-            assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.FORM
-            assert result["step_id"] == "user"
-            assert result["errors"] == {"base": "cannot_connect"}
+        assert result["step_id"] == "user"
+        assert result["errors"] == {"base": "directory_does_not_exist"}
 
     with (
         patch(
             "homeassistant.components.downloader.async_setup_entry", return_value=True
         ),
         patch(
-            "homeassistant.components.downloader.config_flow.DownloaderConfigFlow._validate_input",
-            return_value=None,
+            "os.path.isdir",
+            return_value=True,
         ),
     ):
         result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_configure(
             result["flow_id"],
             user_input=CONFIG,
         )
-
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
         assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.CREATE_ENTRY
         assert result["title"] == "Downloader"
         assert result["data"] == {"download_dir": "download_dir"}
@@ -66,7 +61,6 @@ async def test_single_instance_allowed(
 ) -> None:
     """Test we abort if already setup."""
     mock_config_entry = MockConfigEntry(domain=DOMAIN)
-
     mock_config_entry.add_to_hass(hass)
 
     result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_init(
@@ -84,21 +78,19 @@ async def test_import_flow_success(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
             "homeassistant.components.downloader.async_setup_entry", return_value=True
         ),
         patch(
-            "homeassistant.components.downloader.config_flow.DownloaderConfigFlow._validate_input",
-            return_value=None,
+            "os.path.isdir",
+            return_value=True,
         ),
     ):
         result = await hass.config_entries.flow.async_init(
             DOMAIN,
             context={"source": config_entries.SOURCE_IMPORT},
-            data={},
+            data=CONFIG,
         )
         await hass.async_block_till_done()
-
         assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.CREATE_ENTRY
         assert result["title"] == "Downloader"
-        assert result["data"] == {}
-        assert result["options"] == {}
+        assert result["data"] == CONFIG
 
 
 async def test_import_flow_directory_not_found(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
@@ -112,6 +104,5 @@ async def test_import_flow_directory_not_found(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
             },
         )
         await hass.async_block_till_done()
-
         assert result["type"] is FlowResultType.ABORT
         assert result["reason"] == "directory_does_not_exist"