diff --git a/pisi/api.py b/pisi/api.py
index 01c5ed60..00235d5f 100644
--- a/pisi/api.py
+++ b/pisi/api.py
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ def locked(func):
     Decorator for synchronizing privileged functions
     """
     def wrapper(*__args,**__kw):
-        lock = file(pisi.util.join_path(pisi.context.config.lock_dir(), 'pisi'), 'w')
+        try:
+            lock = file(pisi.util.join_path(pisi.context.config.lock_dir(), 'pisi'), 'w')
+        except IOError:
+            raise pisi.errors.PrivilegeError(_("You have to be root for this operation."))
+
         try:
             fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
             try:
diff --git a/pisi/errors.py b/pisi/errors.py
index 4d46c1bc..7e7cb2f8 100644
--- a/pisi/errors.py
+++ b/pisi/errors.py
@@ -11,3 +11,6 @@
 
 class AnotherInstanceError(Exception):
     pass
+
+class PrivilegeError(Exception):
+    pass