diff --git a/src/cli/index.js b/src/cli/index.js
index 93ef6ed091..e6a047fff3 100644
--- a/src/cli/index.js
+++ b/src/cli/index.js
@@ -339,10 +339,18 @@ function onUnexpectedError(err: Error) {
   log.push(`Trace: ${indent(err.stack)}`);
 
   const errorLoc = path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn-error.log');
-  fs.writeFileSync(errorLoc, log.join('\n\n') + '\n');
-
-  reporter.error(reporter.lang('unexpectedError', err.message));
-  reporter.info(reporter.lang('bugReport', errorLoc));
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(errorLoc, log.join('\n\n') + '\n');
+
+    reporter.error(reporter.lang('unexpectedError', err.message));
+    reporter.info(reporter.lang('bugReport', errorLoc));
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err.code === 'EACCES') {
+      reporter.error(reporter.lang('noFilePermission', err.path));
+    } else {
+      console.error(err);
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 //