diff --git a/tools/cabana/mainwin.cc b/tools/cabana/mainwin.cc
index d3caf492a6..c91fcf7100 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/mainwin.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/mainwin.cc
@@ -606,7 +606,13 @@ void MainWindow::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event) {
     settings.video_splitter_state = video_splitter->saveState();
   }
   settings.message_header_state = messages_widget->saveHeaderState();
-  settings.save();
+
+  auto status = settings.save();
+  if (status == QSettings::AccessError) {
+    QString error = tr("Failed to write settings to [%1]: access denied").arg(Settings::filePath());
+    qDebug() << error;
+    QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Failed to write settings"), error);
+  }
   QWidget::closeEvent(event);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/cabana/settings.cc b/tools/cabana/settings.cc
index 027dcb903f..ee345c490c 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/settings.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/settings.cc
@@ -6,14 +6,13 @@
 #include <QFileDialog>
 #include <QFormLayout>
 #include <QPushButton>
-#include <QSettings>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 
 #include "tools/cabana/util.h"
 
 Settings settings;
 
-void Settings::save() {
+QSettings::Status Settings::save() {
   QSettings s(filePath(), QSettings::IniFormat);
   s.setValue("fps", fps);
   s.setValue("max_cached_minutes", max_cached_minutes);
@@ -35,6 +34,8 @@ void Settings::save() {
   s.setValue("log_path", log_path);
   s.setValue("drag_direction", drag_direction);
   s.setValue("suppress_defined_signals", suppress_defined_signals);
+  s.sync();
+  return s.status();
 }
 
 void Settings::load() {
diff --git a/tools/cabana/settings.h b/tools/cabana/settings.h
index f9eaa8ffad..42073a72de 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/settings.h
+++ b/tools/cabana/settings.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <QDialog>
 #include <QGroupBox>
 #include <QLineEdit>
+#include <QSettings>
 #include <QSpinBox>
 
 #define LIGHT_THEME 1
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ public:
   };
 
   Settings() {}
-  void save();
+  QSettings::Status save();
   void load();
   inline static QString filePath() { return QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/settings"; }