diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index 26e1b0c70..668f25fbc 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
     http://www.plainblack.com/bugs/tracker/enhance-error-message-in-spectre-admin.pm
  - fix: Copying threads, posts, or wiki pages creates inactive version tag
     http://www.plainblack.com/bugs/tracker/new-second-inactive-version-tag-when-duplicating-thread
+ - fix: Make WebGUI error out if there is a permissions problem while creating tar files
+    http://www.plainblack.com/bugs/tracker/webgui-hangs-on-package-export
 
 
 7.3.17
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Storage.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Storage.pm
index 1c8fb99dd..013ae67b8 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Storage.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Storage.pm
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use Storable qw(nstore retrieve);
 use strict;
 use warnings;
 use WebGUI::Utility;
+use Carp;
 
 =head1 NAME
 
@@ -883,7 +884,7 @@ sub tar {
 	my $self = shift;
 	my $filename = shift;
 	my $temp = shift || WebGUI::Storage->createTemp($self->session);
-	chdir $self->getPath;
+    chdir $self->getPath or croak 'Unable to chdir to ' . $self->getPath . ": $!";
 	my @files = ();
 	find(sub { push(@files, $File::Find::name)}, ".");
 	if ($Archive::Tar::VERSION eq '0.072') {