diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js b/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
index 1c18eb87f7..1257133393 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
@@ -304,7 +304,9 @@ var ZoteroPane = new function()
 				// TODO: Add a better error page/window here with reporting
 				// instructions
 				// window.loadURI('chrome://zotero/content/error.xul');
-				alert(errMsg);
+				var pr = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/network/default-prompt;1"]
+							.getService(Components.interfaces.nsIPrompt);
+				pr.alert("", errMsg);
 			}
 			
 			return;
diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
index 1cb6712584..a55bc94712 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
@@ -295,6 +295,15 @@ var Zotero = new function(){
 			Zotero.DB.test();
 		}
 		catch (e) {
+			if (e.name == 'NS_ERROR_FILE_ACCESS_DENIED') {
+				// TODO: localize
+				var msg = Zotero.localeJoin([
+					Zotero.getString('startupError.databaseCannotBeOpened'),
+					Zotero.getString('startupError.checkPermissions')
+				]);
+				_startupError = msg;
+			}
+			
 			Components.utils.reportError(e);
 			this.skipLoading = true;
 			Zotero.DB.skipBackup = true;
diff --git a/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/zotero.properties b/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/zotero.properties
index d036199993..707cd6aa93 100644
--- a/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/zotero.properties
+++ b/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/zotero.properties
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ dataDir.selectedDirNonEmpty.title		= Directory Not Empty
 dataDir.selectedDirNonEmpty.text		= The directory you selected is not empty and does not appear to be a Zotero data directory.\n\nCreate Zotero files in this directory anyway?
 
 startupError						= There was an error starting Zotero.
+startupError.databaseCannotBeOpened	= The Zotero database cannot be opened.
+startupError.checkPermissions 			= Please make sure you have read and write permissions to all files in the Zotero data directory.
 
 pane.collections.delete			= Are you sure you want to delete the selected collection?
 pane.collections.deleteSearch	= Are you sure you want to delete the selected search?