diff --git a/symphony/content/content.publish.php b/symphony/content/content.publish.php
index f72ea2ddb5..c4afa6aa91 100644
--- a/symphony/content/content.publish.php
+++ b/symphony/content/content.publish.php
@@ -245,6 +245,9 @@ public function __viewIndex()
                 Page::HTTP_STATUS_NOT_FOUND
             );
         }
+        else if (!is_writable(CONFIG)) {
+            $this->pageAlert(__('The Symphony configuration file, %s, is not writable. The sort order cannot be modified.', array('<code>/manifest/config.php</code>')), Alert::NOTICE);
+        }
 
         $section = SectionManager::fetch($section_id);