diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsManager.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsManager.py
index bfcc82dd..3f38acdf 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsManager.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsManager.py
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ class settingsManager():
     def loadSettings(self, settingConfigPath):
         if not os.path.exists(settingConfigPath):
             return False
+        if not os.access(settingConfigPath, os.R_OK):
+            return False
         self.env['settings'] = ConfigParser()
         self.env['settings'].read(settingConfigPath)
         return True