diff --git a/sbin/mksnap_ffs/mksnap_ffs.c b/sbin/mksnap_ffs/mksnap_ffs.c
index 58e73dcf9f9d..13186b45976e 100644
--- a/sbin/mksnap_ffs/mksnap_ffs.c
+++ b/sbin/mksnap_ffs/mksnap_ffs.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <grp.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ void usage(void);
 int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	const char *dir;
+	char *dir, *cp, path[PATH_MAX];
 	struct ufs_args args;
 	struct group *grp;
 	struct stat stbuf;
@@ -66,6 +67,37 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	dir = argv[1];
 	args.fspec = argv[2];
 
+	/*
+	 * Check that the user running this program has permission
+	 * to create and remove a snapshot file from the directory
+	 * in which they have requested to have it made. If the 
+	 * directory is sticky and not owned by the user, then they
+	 * will not be able to remove the snapshot when they are
+	 * done with it.
+	 */
+	if (strlen(args.fspec) >= PATH_MAX)
+		errx(1, "pathname too long %s", args.fspec);
+	cp = strrchr(args.fspec, '/');
+	if (cp == NULL) {
+		strlcpy(path, ".", PATH_MAX);
+	} else if (cp == args.fspec) {
+		strlcpy(path, "/", PATH_MAX);
+	} else {
+		strlcpy(path, args.fspec, cp - args.fspec + 1);
+	}
+	if (stat(path, &stbuf) < 0)
+		err(1, "%s", path);
+	if (!S_ISDIR(stbuf.st_mode))
+		errx(1, "%s: Not a directory", path);
+	if (access(path, W_OK) < 0)
+		err(1, "Lack write permission in %s", path);
+	if ((stbuf.st_mode & S_ISTXT) && stbuf.st_uid != getuid())
+		errx(1, "Lack write permission in %s: Sticky bit set", path);
+
+	/*
+	 * Having verified access to the directory in which the
+	 * snapshot is to be built, proceed with creating it.
+	 */
 	if ((grp = getgrnam("operator")) == NULL)
 		errx(1, "Cannot retrieve operator gid");
 	if (mount("ffs", dir, MNT_UPDATE | MNT_SNAPSHOT, &args) < 0)