diff --git a/mopidy/config/__init__.py b/mopidy/config/__init__.py
index db451cef..885ea3a6 100644
--- a/mopidy/config/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/config/__init__.py
@@ -148,6 +148,11 @@ def _load_file(parser, filename):
         logger.debug(
             'Loading config from %s failed; it does not exist', filename)
         return
+    if not os.access(filename, os.R_OK):
+        logger.warning(
+            'Loading config from %s failed; read permission missing',
+            filename)
+        return
 
     try:
         logger.info('Loading config from %s', filename)
diff --git a/tests/config/test_config.py b/tests/config/test_config.py
index b893c5df..8ee91d0d 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_config.py
@@ -15,6 +15,18 @@ class LoadConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_load_nothing(self):
         self.assertEqual({}, config._load([], [], []))
 
+    def test_load_missing_file(self):
+        file0 = path_to_data_dir('file0.conf')
+        result = config._load([file0], [], [])
+        self.assertEqual({}, result)
+
+    @mock.patch('os.access')
+    def test_load_nonreadable_file(self, access_mock):
+        access_mock.return_value = False
+        file1 = path_to_data_dir('file1.conf')
+        result = config._load([file1], [], [])
+        self.assertEqual({}, result)
+
     def test_load_single_default(self):
         default = b'[foo]\nbar = baz'
         expected = {'foo': {'bar': 'baz'}}