diff --git conda-4.4.9/conda/gateways/disk/create.py~ conda-4.4.9/conda/gateways/disk/create.py
index 73e6e17210..980edd6e23 100644
--- conda-4.4.9/conda/gateways/disk/create.py~
+++ conda-4.4.9/conda/gateways/disk/create.py
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ from ...base.context import context
 from ...common.compat import ensure_binary, on_win
 from ...common.path import ensure_pad, expand, win_path_double_escape, win_path_ok
 from ...common.serialize import json_dump
-from ...exceptions import (BasicClobberError, CaseInsensitiveFileSystemError, CondaOSError,
+from ...exceptions import (BasicClobberError,
+                           CaseInsensitiveFileSystemError,
+                           CondaOSError,
+                           NotWritableError,
                            maybe_raise)
 from ...models.enums import FileMode, LinkType
 
@@ -343,6 +346,9 @@ def create_package_cache_directory(pkgs_dir):
         sudo_safe = expand(pkgs_dir).startswith(expand('~'))
         touch(join(pkgs_dir, PACKAGE_CACHE_MAGIC_FILE), mkdir=True, sudo_safe=sudo_safe)
         touch(join(pkgs_dir, 'urls'), sudo_safe=sudo_safe)
+    except NotWritableError:
+        log.trace("cannot create package cache directory '%s'", pkgs_dir)
+        return False
     except (IOError, OSError) as e:
         if e.errno in (EACCES, EPERM):
             log.trace("cannot create package cache directory '%s'", pkgs_dir)