diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/VerifyKobaltZipTest.kt b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/VerifyKobaltZipTest.kt
index 06a96888..03278f4e 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/VerifyKobaltZipTest.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/VerifyKobaltZipTest.kt
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt
 
-import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KFiles
-import com.beust.kobalt.misc.kobaltLog
+import com.beust.kobalt.misc.*
 import org.testng.annotations.Test
 import java.io.*
+import java.nio.file.Files
+import java.nio.file.Paths
 import java.util.*
 import java.util.jar.*
 
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ class VerifyKobaltZipTest : KobaltTest() {
                             throw KobaltException("kobaltw has wrong line endings")
                         }
                     }
+                    if (OperatingSystem.current().isWindows()) {
+                        warn("Can't determine if kobaltw is executable under Windows")
+                    } else if (!Files.isExecutable(Paths.get("dist/kobaltw"))) {
+                        throw KobaltException("kobaltw has invalid permissions")
+                    }
                     foundKobaltw = true
                 } else if (entry.name.endsWith(mainJarFilePath)) {
                     val ins = zipFile.getInputStream(entry)