diff --git update/update.py update/update.py
index ef6fe02..a9b3588 100644
--- update/update.py
+++ update/update.py
@@ -514,7 +514,11 @@ class Update:
                 self.printWARNING(str(e))
                 self.printWARNING(_("Re-fetch {name} repository"
                                   ).format(name=repname))
-                removeDir(rpath)
+                try:
+                    removeDir(rpath)
+                except OSError as e:
+                    raise UpdateError(_("Permission denied to change "
+                        "{repname} repository").format(repname=repname))
         self._syncRepository(name,url,rpath,revision,branch)
         return True