diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/brew.sh b/Library/Homebrew/brew.sh
index 9776e87177409..d292b0e3d2144 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/brew.sh
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/brew.sh
@@ -419,9 +419,13 @@ fi
 
 # Many Pathname operations use getwd when they shouldn't, and then throw
 # odd exceptions. Reduce our support burden by showing a user-friendly error.
-if [[ ! -d "$(pwd)" ]]
+if ! [[ -d "$(pwd)" ]]
 then
-  odie "The current working directory doesn't exist, cannot proceed."
+  odie "The current working directory must exist to run brew."
+fi
+if ! [[ -r "$(pwd)" ]]
+then
+  odie "The current working directory must be readable to run brew."
 fi
 
 #####
diff --git a/bin/brew b/bin/brew
index 635926240c861..87df3de94dc07 100755
--- a/bin/brew
+++ b/bin/brew
@@ -12,10 +12,20 @@ fi
 
 set +o posix # as we are using bash now
 
-# Fail fast with concise message when cwd does not exist
+# Fail fast with concise messages when PWD has issues
+if [[ -z "${PWD-}" ]]
+then
+  echo "Error: \$PWD must be set to run brew." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
 if ! [[ -d "${PWD}" ]]
 then
-  echo "Error: The current working directory doesn't exist, cannot proceed." >&2
+  echo "Error: The current working directory must exist to run brew." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if ! [[ -r "${PWD}" ]]
+then
+  echo "Error: The current working directory must be readable to run brew." >&2
   exit 1
 fi