diff --git a/lib/irb/ext/save-history.rb b/lib/irb/ext/save-history.rb
index 57ba7c1c53..37393dfb36 100644
--- a/lib/irb/ext/save-history.rb
+++ b/lib/irb/ext/save-history.rb
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ module IRB
             File.chmod(0600, history_file)
           end
         rescue Errno::ENOENT
+        rescue Errno::EPERM
+          return
         rescue
           raise
         end