diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index ac5eb19e7..f36ab7272 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -177,9 +177,15 @@ def check_gitignore(git_root, io, ask=True):
     if content and not content.endswith("\n"):
         content += "\n"
     content += "\n".join(patterns_to_add) + "\n"
-    io.write_text(gitignore_file, content)
-
-    io.tool_output(f"Added {', '.join(patterns_to_add)} to .gitignore")
+    
+    try:
+        io.write_text(gitignore_file, content)
+        io.tool_output(f"Added {', '.join(patterns_to_add)} to .gitignore")
+    except PermissionError:
+        io.tool_error(f"Permission denied when trying to write to {gitignore_file}")
+        io.tool_output("Try running with appropriate permissions or manually add these patterns to .gitignore:")
+        for pattern in patterns_to_add:
+            io.tool_output(f"  {pattern}")
 
 
 def check_streamlit_install(io):