diff --git a/common/eda_base_frame.cpp b/common/eda_base_frame.cpp
index f37560d99e..98478aae94 100644
--- a/common/eda_base_frame.cpp
+++ b/common/eda_base_frame.cpp
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ void EDA_BASE_FRAME::commonInit( FRAME_T aFrameType )
     m_isNonUserClose    = false;
     m_autoSaveTimer     = new wxTimer( this, ID_AUTO_SAVE_TIMER );
     m_autoSaveRequired  = false;
+    m_autoSavePermissionError = false;
     m_mruPath           = PATHS::GetDefaultUserProjectsPath();
     m_frameSize         = defaultSize( aFrameType, this );
     m_displayIndex      = -1;
diff --git a/eeschema/files-io.cpp b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
index 5d63f058fb..8a0bdc065a 100644
--- a/eeschema/files-io.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
@@ -1230,8 +1230,18 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::doAutoSave()
     if( !tmp.IsOk() )
         return false;
 
-    if( !IsWritable( tmp ) )
+    if( !IsWritable( tmp, false ) )
+    {
+        if( !m_autoSavePermissionError )
+        {
+            DisplayError( this, wxString::Format(
+                                   _( "Could not autosave files to read-only folder:  '%s'" ),
+                                   tmp.GetPath() ) );
+            m_autoSavePermissionError = true;
+        }
+
         return false;
+    }
 
     wxString title = GetTitle();    // Save frame title, that can be modified by the save process
 
@@ -1246,6 +1256,20 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::doAutoSave()
         // Auto save file name is the normal file name prefixed with GetAutoSavePrefix().
         fn.SetName( FILEEXT::AutoSaveFilePrefix + fn.GetName() );
 
+        if( !IsWritable( fn, false ) )
+        {
+            if( !m_autoSavePermissionError )
+            {
+                DisplayError( this, wxString::Format(
+                                       _( "Could not autosave files to read-only folder:  '%s'" ),
+                                       fn.GetPath() ) );
+                m_autoSavePermissionError = true;
+            }
+
+            autoSaveOk = false;
+            continue;
+        }
+
         if( saveSchematicFile( screens.GetSheet( i ), fn.GetFullPath() ) )
         {
             // This was only an auto-save, not a real save.  Reset the modified flag.
diff --git a/include/eda_base_frame.h b/include/eda_base_frame.h
index 44d8affc36..65f0608380 100644
--- a/include/eda_base_frame.h
+++ b/include/eda_base_frame.h
@@ -771,6 +771,7 @@ private:
     bool                    m_autoSavePending;
     bool                    m_autoSaveRequired;
     wxTimer*                m_autoSaveTimer;
+    bool                    m_autoSavePermissionError;
 
     int                     m_undoRedoCountMax;  // undo/Redo command Max depth
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/files.cpp b/pcbnew/files.cpp
index 7918354979..52521f3ae1 100644
--- a/pcbnew/files.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/files.cpp
@@ -1200,12 +1200,33 @@ bool PCB_EDIT_FRAME::doAutoSave()
     // path.  If that path isn't writable, give up.
     if( !autoSaveFileName.IsDirWritable() )
     {
+        if( !m_autoSavePermissionError )
+        {
+            DisplayError( this, wxString::Format(
+                                   _( "Could not autosave files to read-only folder:  '%s'" ),
+                                   autoSaveFileName.GetPath() ) );
+            m_autoSavePermissionError = true;
+        }
+
         autoSaveFileName.SetPath( wxFileName::GetTempDir() );
 
         if( !autoSaveFileName.IsOk() || !autoSaveFileName.IsDirWritable() )
             return false;
     }
 
+    if( !IsWritable( autoSaveFileName, false ) )
+    {
+        if( !m_autoSavePermissionError )
+        {
+            DisplayError( this, wxString::Format(
+                                   _( "Could not autosave files to read-only folder:  '%s'" ),
+                                   autoSaveFileName.GetPath() ) );
+            m_autoSavePermissionError = true;
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
     wxLogTrace( traceAutoSave,
                 wxT( "Creating auto save file <" ) + autoSaveFileName.GetFullPath() + wxT( ">" ) );