diff --git a/tests/data/docker/mitogen__permdenied.profile b/tests/data/docker/mitogen__permdenied.profile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a2be07e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/docker/mitogen__permdenied.profile
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+mkdir -p bad
+chmod 0 bad
+cd bad
diff --git a/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml b/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
index a5b63c13..5f1bf0dc 100644
--- a/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
+++ b/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
       - readonly_homedir
       - require_tty
       - require_tty_pw_required
+      - permdenied
       - slow_user
       - webapp
       - sudo1
@@ -98,6 +99,14 @@
       - bashrc
       - profile
 
+    - name: "Login throws permission denied errors (issue #271)"
+      copy:
+        dest: ~mitogen__permdenied/.{{item}}
+        src: ../data/docker/mitogen__permdenied.profile
+      with_items:
+      - bashrc
+      - profile
+
     - name: Install pubkey for mitogen__has_sudo_pubkey
       block:
         - file: