diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 8197719a..7b2781f1 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ function stripslashes_deep($value) { $value = is_array($value) ? array_map('stri
 header("Pragma: no-cache");
 
 // Directories creations (Note that your web host may require differents rights than 705.)
+if (!is_writable(realpath(dirname(__FILE__)))) die('<pre>ERROR: Shaarli does not have the right to write in its own directory ('.realpath(dirname(__FILE__)).').</pre>');
 if (!is_dir($GLOBALS['config']['DATADIR'])) { mkdir($GLOBALS['config']['DATADIR'],0705); chmod($GLOBALS['config']['DATADIR'],0705); }
 if (!is_dir('tmp')) { mkdir('tmp',0705); chmod('tmp',0705); } // For RainTPL temporary files.
 if (!is_file($GLOBALS['config']['DATADIR'].'/.htaccess')) { file_put_contents($GLOBALS['config']['DATADIR'].'/.htaccess',"Allow from none\nDeny from all\n"); } // Protect data files.