diff --git a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/azcopy/util.py b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/azcopy/util.py
index afe475d522c..88d5b4cf6a0 100644
--- a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/azcopy/util.py
+++ b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/azcopy/util.py
@@ -53,10 +53,13 @@ def install_azcopy(self, install_location):
         else:
             raise CLIError('Azcopy ({}) does not exist.'.format(self.system))
         try:
-            os.chmod(install_dir, os.stat(install_dir).st_mode | stat.S_IWUSR)
             _urlretrieve(file_url, install_location)
             os.chmod(install_location,
                      os.stat(install_location).st_mode | stat.S_IXUSR | stat.S_IXGRP | stat.S_IXOTH)
+        except PermissionError as err:
+            raise CLIError(f'Permission error while attempting to download azcopy to {install_dir}. '
+                           f'You could install the specified azcopy version {AZCOPY_VERSION} manually or '
+                           f'grant write permission and retry. ({err})')
         except IOError as err:
             raise CLIError('Connection error while attempting to download azcopy {}. You could also install the '
                            'specified azcopy version to {} manually. ({})'.format(AZCOPY_VERSION, install_dir, err))