diff --git a/mariadb.spec b/mariadb.spec
index ed867cc..3b91308 100644
--- a/mariadb.spec
+++ b/mariadb.spec
@@ -1127,6 +1127,10 @@ fi
 %endif
 
 %changelog
+* Tue Mar 03 2015 Honza Horak <hhorak@redhat.com> - 1:10.0.16-6
+- Check permissions when starting service on RHEL-6
+  Resolves: #1194699
+
 * Fri Feb 13 2015 Matej Muzila <mmuzila@redhat.com> - 1:10.0.16-4
 - Enable tokudb
 
diff --git a/mysql.init.in b/mysql.init.in
index be34fbf..e5a1659 100644
--- a/mysql.init.in
+++ b/mysql.init.in
@@ -45,6 +45,13 @@ source "@libexecdir@/mysql-scripts-common"
 
 start(){
     [ -x $exec ] || exit 5
+
+    # check permissions
+    if ! touch $(dirname $socketfile) &>/dev/null ; then
+        action $"Starting $prog: " /bin/false
+        return 4
+    fi
+
     # check to see if it's already running
     MYSQLDRUNNING=0
     if [ -f "$pidfile" ]; then