diff --git a/gravity.sh b/gravity.sh
index 493f2b15..3a7db5ae 100755
--- a/gravity.sh
+++ b/gravity.sh
@@ -541,14 +541,16 @@ gravity_DownloadBlocklists() {
     # it (in case it doesn't exist)
     # First, check if the directory is writable
     directory="$(dirname -- "${saveLocation}")"
-    if [ ! -w "${directory}" ]; then
+    directory_permissions=$(stat -c %a ${directory})
+    if [ $directory_permissions -lt 700 ]; then
       echo -e "  ${CROSS} Unable to write to ${directory}"
       echo "      Please run pihole -g as root"
       echo ""
       continue
     fi
     # Then, check if the file is writable (if it exists)
-    if [ -e "${saveLocation}" ] && [ ! -w "${saveLocation}" ]; then
+    saveLocation_permissions=$(stat -c %a ${saveLocation})
+    if [ -e "${saveLocation}" ] && [ ${saveLocation_permissions} -lt 600 ]; then
       echo -e "  ${CROSS} Unable to write to ${saveLocation}"
       echo "      Please run pihole -g as root"
       echo ""