diff --git a/docker/php/bootstrap.sh b/docker/php/bootstrap.sh
index 5aaec0b2..006eea80 100755
--- a/docker/php/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/docker/php/bootstrap.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ chgrp www-data /var/www
 # Initialize an empty robots.txt with the default if it doesn't exist.
 touch /var/www/robots.txt
 
+# Initialize an empty writable secrests.php with the default if it doesn't exist.
+touch /var/www/inc/secrets.php
+chown www-data /var/www/inc/secrets.php
+chgrp www-data /var/www/inc/secrets.php
+
 # Link the cache and tmp files directory.
 ln -nfs /var/tmp/leftypol /var/www/tmp
 
diff --git a/install.php b/install.php
index 9d3ef19c..6e58d344 100644
--- a/install.php
+++ b/install.php
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // Installation/upgrade file
 define('VERSION', '5.1.3');
 
-if (fopen('inc/instance-config.php' , 'a') === false) {
+if (!is_writable('inc/instance-config.php') || !is_writable('inc/')) {
 	print('install.php does not have permission to write to /inc/, without permission the installer cannot continue');
 	exit();
 }