diff --git a/ui/build/kati.go b/ui/build/kati.go
index b54872c..b26d673 100644
--- a/ui/build/kati.go
+++ b/ui/build/kati.go
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@
 		"--warn_real_to_phony",
 		"--warn_phony_looks_real",
 		"--kati_stats",
+		"--writable", config.OutDir() + "/",
+		"--writable", config.DistDir() + "/",
 		"-f", "build/make/core/main.mk",
 	}
 
@@ -94,7 +96,10 @@
 	}
 
 	if !config.BuildBrokenPhonyTargets() {
-		args = append(args, "--werror_real_to_phony", "--werror_phony_looks_real")
+		args = append(args,
+			"--werror_real_to_phony",
+			"--werror_phony_looks_real",
+			"--werror_writable")
 	}
 
 	if !config.Environment().IsFalse("KATI_EMULATE_FIND") {