diff --git a/src/file/imp/windows.rs b/src/file/imp/windows.rs
index a8a6f76c4..e7f603843 100644
--- a/src/file/imp/windows.rs
+++ b/src/file/imp/windows.rs
@@ -19,11 +19,18 @@ fn to_utf16(s: &Path) -> Vec<u16> {
     s.as_os_str().encode_wide().chain(iter::once(0)).collect()
 }
 
+fn not_supported<T>(msg: &str) -> io::Result<T> {
+    Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other, msg))
+}
+
 pub fn create_named(
     path: &Path,
     open_options: &mut OpenOptions,
-    _permissions: Option<&std::fs::Permissions>,
+    permissions: Option<&std::fs::Permissions>,
 ) -> io::Result<File> {
+    if permissions.map_or(false, |p| p.readonly()) {
+        return not_supported("changing permissions is not supported on this platform");
+    }
     open_options
         .create_new(true)
         .read(true)
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 798c2276d..b5c9364e0 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -420,7 +420,8 @@ impl<'a, 'b> Builder<'a, 'b> {
     ///
     /// ## Windows and others
     ///
-    /// This setting is ignored.
+    /// This setting is unsupported and trying to set a directory read-only
+    /// will cause an error to be returned..
     ///
     /// # Limitations
     ///