diff --git a/webapp/build.xml b/webapp/build.xml
index 3ed917b8a..0a009efa7 100644
--- a/webapp/build.xml
+++ b/webapp/build.xml
@@ -115,6 +115,16 @@ deploy   - Deploy the application directly into the Tomcat webapps directory.
 				</not>
 			</condition>
 		</fail>
+		
+		<fail message="The vitro.home.directory &quot;${vitro.home.directory}&quot; is not writable.">
+		    <condition>
+		        <not>
+		            <isfileselected file="${vitro.home.directory}" >
+		                <writable/>
+		            </isfileselected>
+		        </not>
+		    </condition>
+		</fail>
 
 		<property name="solr.home.dir" location="${vitro.home.directory}/solr" />
 	</target>