diff --git a/pyhindsight/analysis.py b/pyhindsight/analysis.py
index 9217b14..cf60deb 100644
--- a/pyhindsight/analysis.py
+++ b/pyhindsight/analysis.py
@@ -353,7 +353,14 @@ def is_profile(base_path, existing_files, warn=False):
     def search_subdirs(self, base_path):
         """Recursively search a path for browser profiles"""
         found_profile_paths = []
-        base_dir_listing = os.listdir(base_path)
+
+        try:
+            base_dir_listing = os.listdir(base_path)
+        except Exception, e:
+            log.warning('Exception reading directory {0:s}; possible permissions issue? Exception: {1:s}'
+                        .format(base_path, e))
+            return found_profile_paths
+
         if self.is_profile(base_path, base_dir_listing):
             found_profile_paths.append(base_path)
         for item in base_dir_listing: