diff --git a/zenmap/zenmapCore/UmitConfigParser.py b/zenmap/zenmapCore/UmitConfigParser.py
index 5768640dd..5677fb77e 100644
--- a/zenmap/zenmapCore/UmitConfigParser.py
+++ b/zenmap/zenmapCore/UmitConfigParser.py
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ class UmitConfigParser(ConfigParser):
 
     def __init__(self, *args):
         self.filenames = None
+        self.failed = False
         ConfigParser.__init__(self, *args)
 
     def set(self, section, option, value):
@@ -149,7 +150,14 @@ class UmitConfigParser(ConfigParser):
     def save_changes(self):
         if self.filenames:
             log.debug("saving to %s" % self.filenames)
-            self.write(open(self.filenames, 'w'))
+            try:
+                fp = open(self.filenames, 'w')
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.failed = e
+                log.error(">>> Can't save to %s: %s" % (self.filenames, e))
+                return
+            self.write(fp)
+            self.failed = False
         else:
             log.debug(">>> UmitConfigParser can't save changes: no filename")
 
diff --git a/zenmap/zenmapGUI/MainWindow.py b/zenmap/zenmapGUI/MainWindow.py
index 8dc6a3aec..3a41b65d9 100644
--- a/zenmap/zenmapGUI/MainWindow.py
+++ b/zenmap/zenmapGUI/MainWindow.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ from zenmapCore.RecentScans import recent_scans
 from zenmapCore.UmitLogging import log
 import zenmapCore.I18N
 import zenmapGUI.Print
-from zenmapCore.UmitConf import SearchConfig, is_maemo, WindowConfig
+from zenmapCore.UmitConf import SearchConfig, is_maemo, WindowConfig, config_parser
 from zenmapCore.NetworkInventory import FilteredNetworkInventory
 
 UmitScanWindow = None
@@ -906,23 +906,19 @@ This scan has not been run yet. Start the scan with the "Scan" button first.'))
                 return True
 
         window = WindowConfig()
-        try:
-            window.x, window.y = self.get_position()
-            window.width, window.height = self.get_size()
-            window.save_changes()
-        except IOError as e:
-            if e.errno == errno.EACCES:
-                alert = HIGAlertDialog(
-                        message_format=_("Can't save Zenmap configuration"),
-                        # newline before path to help avoid weird line wrapping
-                        secondary_text=_(
-                            'Permission denied when writing to\n%s'
-                            '\nMake sure the file exists and is writable.'
-                            ) % (Path.user_config_file))
-                alert.run()
-                alert.destroy()
-            else:
-                raise
+        window.x, window.y = self.get_position()
+        window.width, window.height = self.get_size()
+        window.save_changes()
+        if config_parser.failed:
+            alert = HIGAlertDialog(
+                    message_format=_("Can't save Zenmap configuration"),
+                    # newline before path to help avoid weird line wrapping
+                    secondary_text=_(
+                        'An error occurred when saving to\n%s'
+                        '\nThe error was: %s.'
+                        ) % (Path.user_config_file, config_parser.failed))
+            alert.run()
+            alert.destroy()
 
         self.destroy()
 
diff --git a/zenmap/zenmapGUI/NmapOutputViewer.py b/zenmap/zenmapGUI/NmapOutputViewer.py
index 2e8f30d35..26b5cc9d2 100644
--- a/zenmap/zenmapGUI/NmapOutputViewer.py
+++ b/zenmap/zenmapGUI/NmapOutputViewer.py
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ import gtk
 import gtk.gdk
 import pango
 import re
-import errno
 
 import zenmapCore.I18N
 from zenmapCore.UmitLogging import log
@@ -264,20 +263,7 @@ class NmapOutputViewer (gtk.VBox):
             self.nmap_highlight.__setattr__(widget.property_name, wid_props)
 
         nmap_out_prop.destroy()
-        try:
-            self.nmap_highlight.save_changes()
-        except IOError as e:
-            if e.errno == errno.EACCES:
-                alert = HIGAlertDialog(
-                        message_format=_("Can't save Zenmap configuration"),
-                        secondary_text=_(
-                            'Permission denied when writing to \n%s'
-                            '\nMake sure the file exists and is writable.'
-                            ) % (Path.user_config_file))
-                alert.run()
-                alert.destroy()
-            else:
-                raise
+        self.nmap_highlight.save_changes()
         self.apply_highlighting()
 
     def apply_highlighting(self, start_iter=None, end_iter=None):