diff --git a/mopidy/local/storage.py b/mopidy/local/storage.py
index aaa74fba..e1771530 100644
--- a/mopidy/local/storage.py
+++ b/mopidy/local/storage.py
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 def check_dirs_and_files(config):
     if not os.path.isdir(config['local']['media_dir']):
         logger.warning(
-            'Local media dir %s does not exist.' %
-            config['local']['media_dir'])
+            'Local media dir %s does not exist or we lack permissions to the '
+            'directory or one of its parents' % config['local']['media_dir'])