diff --git a/src/ex_cmds.c b/src/ex_cmds.c
index 06109d5..e1497a5 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds.c
@@ -1856,6 +1856,19 @@
 	(void)do_write(eap);
 }
 
+#ifdef UNIX
+    static int
+check_writable(char_u *fname)
+{
+    if (mch_nodetype(fname) == NODE_OTHER)
+    {
+	semsg(_("E503: \"%s\" is not a file or writable device"), fname);
+	return FAIL;
+    }
+    return OK;
+}
+#endif
+
 /*
  * write current buffer to file 'eap->arg'
  * if 'eap->append' is TRUE, append to the file
@@ -1942,7 +1955,11 @@
 #ifdef FEAT_QUICKFIX
 		bt_dontwrite_msg(curbuf) ||
 #endif
-		check_fname() == FAIL || check_readonly(&eap->forceit, curbuf)))
+		check_fname() == FAIL
+#ifdef UNIX
+		|| check_writable(curbuf->b_ffname) == FAIL
+#endif
+		|| check_readonly(&eap->forceit, curbuf)))
 	goto theend;
 
     if (!other)
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_writefile.vim b/src/testdir/test_writefile.vim
index 8470d4e..75dda81 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_writefile.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_writefile.vim
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@
         \ && getftype('/dev/loop0') == 'bdev' && !IsRoot()
     new
     edit /dev/loop0
-    call assert_fails('write', 'E505: ')
+    call assert_fails('write', 'E503: ')
     call assert_fails('write!', 'E503: ')
     close!
   endif
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 1aef3c7..70e02ed 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2856,
+/**/
     2855,
 /**/
     2854,