diff --git a/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/gimplogger.py b/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/gimplogger.py
index 6c8660a2e8..89478f38e5 100755
--- a/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/gimplogger.py
+++ b/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/gimplogger.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class GimpLogger (object):
 
         self.verbose = verbose
         self.debugging = debugging
+        self.enabled = True
 
         if debugging:
             log_level = logging.DEBUG
@@ -46,15 +47,25 @@ class GimpLogger (object):
         else:
             log_filemode = 'w'
 
-        logging.basicConfig(
-            filename=logfile,
-            filemode=log_filemode,
-            encoding='utf-8',
-            level=log_level,
-            format='%(asctime)s | %(name)s | %(levelname)s | %(message)s')
+        try:
+            logging.basicConfig(
+                filename=logfile,
+                filemode=log_filemode,
+                encoding='utf-8',
+                level=log_level,
+                format='%(asctime)s | %(name)s | %(levelname)s | %(message)s')
 
-        logging.debug("Starting logger...")
-        logging.debug("Log file: %s", os.path.abspath(logfile))
+            logging.debug("Starting logger...")
+            logging.debug("Log file: %s", os.path.abspath(logfile))
+        except PermissionError:
+            self.enabled = False
+            msg = ("We do not have permission to create a log file at " +
+                   os.path.abspath(logfile) + ". " +
+                   "Please use env var GIMP_TESTS_LOG_FILE to set up a location.")
+            if interactive:
+                Gimp.message(msg)
+            else:
+                print(msg)
 
     def set_interactive(self, interactive):
         if self.interactive != interactive:
diff --git a/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/test-file-plug-ins.py b/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/test-file-plug-ins.py
index 7bd04d3469..d9cb3cccaf 100755
--- a/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/test-file-plug-ins.py
+++ b/plug-ins/python/tests/test-file-plug-ins/test-file-plug-ins.py
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ PRINT_VERBOSE = False
 LOG_APPEND = False
 
 
-test_cfg = GimpConfig()
-
-log = GimpLogger(False, test_cfg.log_file, LOG_APPEND, PRINT_VERBOSE, DEBUGGING)
-
-
 class PythonTest (Gimp.PlugIn):
 
+    def __init__(self):
+        Gimp.PlugIn.__init__(self)
+        self.test_cfg = None
+        self.log = None
+
     ## GimpPlugIn virtual methods ##
     def do_set_i18n(self, _name):
         # We don't support internationalization here...
@@ -93,31 +93,38 @@ class PythonTest (Gimp.PlugIn):
                                   YEARS)   #year
         return procedure
 
+    def init_logging(self):
+        self.test_cfg = GimpConfig()
+
+        self.log = GimpLogger(True, self.test_cfg.log_file, LOG_APPEND, PRINT_VERBOSE, DEBUGGING)
+
     def run_import_tests(self, procedure, _run_mode, _image,
                          _n_drawables, _drawable, _config, _data):
-        log.set_interactive(True)
+        self.init_logging()
 
-        runner = GimpTestRunner(log, "import", test_cfg)
-        runner.run_tests()
+        if self.log.enabled:
+            runner = GimpTestRunner(self.log, "import", self.test_cfg)
+            runner.run_tests()
 
         return procedure.new_return_values(Gimp.PDBStatusType.SUCCESS, GLib.Error())
 
     def run_export_tests(self, procedure, _run_mode, _image,
                          _n_drawables, _drawable, _config, _data):
-        log.set_interactive(True)
+        self.init_logging()
 
-        runner = GimpExportTestRunner(log, "export", test_cfg)
-        if not runner:
-            log.error("Failed to create export test runner!")
-        else:
-            runner.load_test_configs()
+        if self.log.enabled:
+            runner = GimpExportTestRunner(self.log, "export", self.test_cfg)
+            if not runner:
+                self.log.error("Failed to create export test runner!")
+            else:
+                runner.load_test_configs()
 
-            bmp_tests = BmpExportTests("bmp", log)
-            runner.add_test(bmp_tests)
+                bmp_tests = BmpExportTests("bmp", self.log)
+                runner.add_test(bmp_tests)
 
-            # Add additional tests here
+                # Add additional tests here
 
-            runner.run_tests()
+                runner.run_tests()
 
         return procedure.new_return_values(Gimp.PDBStatusType.SUCCESS, GLib.Error())