diff --git a/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/util/newProjectWizard/ProjectNameStep.java b/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/util/newProjectWizard/ProjectNameStep.java
index cd856b7c3ab4..c271ba377f4d 100644
--- a/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/util/newProjectWizard/ProjectNameStep.java
+++ b/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/util/newProjectWizard/ProjectNameStep.java
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ public class ProjectNameStep extends ModuleWizardStep {
     }
 
     final File file = new File(projectFileDirectory);
-    if (!file.canWrite()) {
+    if (file.exists() && !file.canWrite()) {
       throw new ConfigurationException(String.format("Directory '%s' is not writable!\nPlease choose another project location.", projectFileDirectory));
     }