diff --git a/lisp/cli/packages.el b/lisp/cli/packages.el
index 6b0c14e93..39a8f0d70 100644
--- a/lisp/cli/packages.el
+++ b/lisp/cli/packages.el
@@ -211,9 +211,12 @@ list remains lean."
            (error-file (doom-packages--eln-error-file eln-name)))
       (if (file-exists-p eln-file)
           (doom-log "Compiled %s" eln-file)
-        (make-directory (file-name-directory error-file) 'parents)
-        (write-region "" nil error-file)
-        (doom-log "Wrote %s" error-file)))))
+        (let ((error-dir (file-name-directory error-file)))
+          (if (not (file-writable-p error-dir))
+              (doom-log "Can't write %s" error-file)
+            (make-directory error-dir 'parents)
+            (write-region "" nil error-file)
+            (doom-log "Wrote %s" error-file)))))))
 
 (defun doom-packages--wait-for-native-compile-jobs ()
   "Wait for all pending async native compilation jobs."
@@ -245,9 +248,11 @@ list remains lean."
              for eln-name = (doom-packages--eln-file-name file)
              for eln-file = (doom-packages--eln-output-file eln-name)
              for error-file = (doom-packages--eln-error-file eln-name)
+             for error-dir = (file-name-directory error-file)
              unless (or (file-exists-p eln-file)
-                        (file-newer-than-file-p error-file file))
-             do (make-directory (file-name-directory error-file) 'parents)
+                        (file-newer-than-file-p error-file file)
+                        (not (file-writable-p error-dir)))
+             do (make-directory error-dir 'parents)
              (write-region "" nil error-file)
              (doom-log "Wrote %s" error-file))
     (setq doom-packages--eln-output-expected nil)))