diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index a98af99..cb4286b 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -83,11 +83,16 @@
 CPP = common/preproc.py
 
 common_install:
-	mkdir -p @prefix@/pdk/bin/
-	cp common/cleanup_unref.py @prefix@/pdk/bin/
-	cp common/soc_floorplanner.py @prefix@/pdk/bin/
-	${CPP} -DPREFIX=@prefix@ common/create_project.py \
-		@prefix@/pdk/bin/create_project.py
+	@if test -w @prefix@ ; then \
+		mkdir -p @prefix@/pdk/bin/ ;\
+		cp common/cleanup_unref.py @prefix@/pdk/bin/ ;\
+		cp common/soc_floorplanner.py @prefix@/pdk/bin/ ;\
+		${CPP} -DPREFIX=@prefix@ common/create_project.py \
+			@prefix@/pdk/bin/create_project.py ;\
+		echo "Common install:  Done." ;\
+	else \
+		echo "Common install:  @prefix@ is not writeable (ignoring)." ;\
+	fi
 	
 #---------------------------------------------------