diff --git a/install.php b/install.php
index cb2a44cd..0d17d0da 100644
--- a/install.php
+++ b/install.php
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ define('VERSION', '5.1.4');
 require 'inc/bootstrap.php';
 loadConfig();
 
+if (!is_writable('inc/secrets.php')) {
+	echo 'install.php does not have permission to write to /inc/secrets.php, without permission the installer cannot continue';
+	exit();
+}
+
 // Salt generators
 class SaltGen {
 	public $salt_length = 128;