diff --git a/lbrynet/lbryfile/client/LBRYFileDownloader.py b/lbrynet/lbryfile/client/LBRYFileDownloader.py
index f8cf4a7c0..9799f1f01 100644
--- a/lbrynet/lbryfile/client/LBRYFileDownloader.py
+++ b/lbrynet/lbryfile/client/LBRYFileDownloader.py
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ from lbrynet.lbryfile.client.LBRYFileMetadataHandler import LBRYFileMetadataHand
 import os
 from twisted.internet import defer, threads, reactor
 from twisted.python.procutils import which
+import logging
+import traceback
+
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class LBRYFileDownloader(CryptStreamDownloader):
@@ -178,7 +183,13 @@ class LBRYFileSaver(LBRYFileDownloader):
                                                       file_name + "_" + str(ext_num))):
                         ext_num += 1
                     file_name = file_name + "_" + str(ext_num)
-                self.file_handle = open(os.path.join(self.download_directory, file_name), 'wb')
+                try:
+                    self.file_handle = open(os.path.join(self.download_directory, file_name), 'wb')
+                except IOError:
+                    log.error(traceback.format_exc())
+                    raise ValueError("Failed to open %s. Make sure you have permission to save files to that"
+                                     " location." % str(os.path.join(self.download_directory,
+                                                                     file_name)))
         return threads.deferToThread(open_file)
 
     def _close_output(self):
diff --git a/lbrynet/lbrynet_console/ControlHandlers.py b/lbrynet/lbrynet_console/ControlHandlers.py
index 2856ae135..710eab730 100644
--- a/lbrynet/lbrynet_console/ControlHandlers.py
+++ b/lbrynet/lbrynet_console/ControlHandlers.py
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ class InvalidValueError(Exception):
 #    prompt_description = None
 
 
+def get_log_file():
+    log_file = "console.log"
+    logging_handlers = logging.getLogger().handlers
+    if len(logging_handlers):
+        log_file = logging_handlers[0].baseFilename
+    return log_file
+
+
 class RoundedTime(object):
     SECOND = 0
     MINUTE = 1
@@ -611,9 +619,7 @@ class AddStream(CommandHandler):
     def _handle_load_failed(self, err):
         self.loading_failed = True
         log.error("An exception occurred attempting to load the stream descriptor: %s", err.getTraceback())
-        log_file = "console.log"
-        if len(log.handlers):
-            log_file = log.handlers[0].baseFilename
+        log_file = get_log_file()
         self.console.sendLine("An unexpected error occurred attempting to load the stream's metadata.\n"
                               "See %s for further details.\n\n" % log_file)
         self.finished_deferred.callback(None)
@@ -771,10 +777,8 @@ class AddStream(CommandHandler):
             d.addErrback(self._log_recent_blockchain_time_error_download)
         else:
             log.error("An unexpected error has caused the download to stop: %s" % err.getTraceback())
-            log_file = "console.log"
-            if len(log.handlers):
-                log_file = log.handlers[0].baseFilename
-            self.console.sendLine("An unexpected error has caused the download to stop. See %s for details." % log_file)
+            log_file = get_log_file()
+            self.console.sendLine("An unexpected error has caused the download to stop:\n%s\n\nSee %s for further details." % (err.getErrorMessage(), log_file))
 
     def _make_downloader(self):
         return self.factory.make_downloader(self.metadata, self.options_chosen,