diff --git a/Interlace/lib/core/input.py b/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
index 492a2f7..20b67b2 100644
--- a/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
+++ b/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from argparse import ArgumentParser
 from netaddr import IPNetwork, IPRange, IPGlob
 from Interlace.lib.core.output import OutputHelper, Level
 import os.path
+from os import access, W_OK
 import sys
 from re import compile
 
@@ -68,6 +69,10 @@ class InputHelper(object):
         final_commands = set()
         output = OutputHelper(arguments)
 
+        # checking for whether output is writable and whether it exists
+        if not access(arguments.output, W_OK):
+            raise Exception("Directory provided isn't writable")
+
         if arguments.port:
             if "," in arguments.port:
                 ports = arguments.port.split(",")