diff --git a/tools/libinput-replay.py b/tools/libinput-replay.py
index c120f2c7..a88c47ea 100755
--- a/tools/libinput-replay.py
+++ b/tools/libinput-replay.py
@@ -337,10 +337,14 @@ def setup_quirks(recording):
         sys.exit(1)
 
     overrides.parent.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
-    with overrides.open("w+") as fd:
-        fd.write("# This file was generated by libinput replay\n")
-        fd.write("# Unless libinput replay is running right now, remove this file.\n")
-        fd.write("\n\n".join(quirks))
+    try:
+        with overrides.open("w+") as fd:
+            fd.write("# This file was generated by libinput replay\n")
+            fd.write("# Unless libinput replay is running right now, remove this file.\n")
+            fd.write("\n\n".join(quirks))
+    except IOError:
+        error("Warning: Couldn't write to {}, please re-run as root".format(overrides))
+        return None
 
     return overrides