--- a/generator.c
+++ b/generator.c
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ static enum delret delete_item(char *fbuf, int mode, char *replace, int flags)
 			fbuf, mode, flags);
 	}
 
+	if (!am_root && !(mode & S_IWUSR))
+		do_chmod(fbuf, mode |= S_IWUSR); /* at least try... */
+
 	if (S_ISDIR(mode) && !(flags & DEL_DIR_IS_EMPTY)) {
 		ignore_perishable = 1;
 		/* If DEL_RECURSE is not set, this just reports emptiness. */
@@ -259,9 +262,12 @@ static enum delret delete_dir_contents(char *fname, int flags)
 
 		strlcpy(p, fp->basename, remainder);
 		/* Save stack by recursing to ourself directly. */
-		if (S_ISDIR(fp->mode)
-		 && delete_dir_contents(fname, flags | DEL_RECURSE) != DR_SUCCESS)
-			ret = DR_NOT_EMPTY;
+		if (S_ISDIR(fp->mode)) {
+			if (!am_root && !(fp->mode & S_IWUSR))
+				do_chmod(fname, fp->mode |= S_IWUSR); /* at least try... */
+			if (delete_dir_contents(fname, flags | DEL_RECURSE) != DR_SUCCESS)
+				ret = DR_NOT_EMPTY;
+		}
 		if (delete_item(fname, fp->mode, NULL, flags) != DR_SUCCESS)
 			ret = DR_NOT_EMPTY;
 	}