diff --git a/fix_cache_permissions.sh b/fix_cache_permissions.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dbb29e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fix_cache_permissions.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# LEDMatrix Cache Permissions Fix Script
+# This script fixes permissions on the cache directory so it's writable by the daemon user
+
+echo "Fixing LEDMatrix cache directory permissions..."
+
+CACHE_DIR="/var/cache/ledmatrix"
+
+if [ ! -d "$CACHE_DIR" ]; then
+    echo "Cache directory does not exist. Run setup_cache.sh first."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Get the real user (not root when running with sudo)
+REAL_USER=${SUDO_USER:-$USER}
+
+echo "Current cache directory permissions:"
+ls -la "$CACHE_DIR"
+
+echo ""
+echo "Fixing permissions..."
+
+# Make the directory writable by the daemon user (which the system runs as)
+sudo chmod 777 "$CACHE_DIR"
+
+# Also set ownership to daemon:daemon to match the cache files
+sudo chown daemon:daemon "$CACHE_DIR"
+
+echo ""
+echo "Updated cache directory permissions:"
+ls -la "$CACHE_DIR"
+
+echo ""
+echo "Testing write access..."
+if sudo -u daemon test -w "$CACHE_DIR"; then
+    echo "✓ Cache directory is now writable by daemon user"
+else
+    echo "✗ Cache directory is still not writable by daemon user"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "Permissions fix complete! LEDMatrix should now use persistent caching."
+echo "The cache will survive system restarts." 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/cache_manager.py b/src/cache_manager.py
index d60cab7b..5395082e 100644
--- a/src/cache_manager.py
+++ b/src/cache_manager.py
@@ -62,18 +62,46 @@ class CacheManager:
         try:
             # Try /var/cache/ledmatrix first (most standard)
             system_cache_dir = '/var/cache/ledmatrix'
-            os.makedirs(system_cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
-            if os.access(system_cache_dir, os.W_OK):
-                return system_cache_dir
+            
+            # Check if directory exists and we can write to it
+            if os.path.exists(system_cache_dir):
+                # Test if we can write to the existing directory
+                test_file = os.path.join(system_cache_dir, '.writetest')
+                try:
+                    with open(test_file, 'w') as f:
+                        f.write('test')
+                    os.remove(test_file)
+                    return system_cache_dir
+                except (IOError, OSError):
+                    self.logger.warning(f"Directory exists but is not writable: {system_cache_dir}")
+            else:
+                # Try to create the directory
+                os.makedirs(system_cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+                if os.access(system_cache_dir, os.W_OK):
+                    return system_cache_dir
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warning(f"Could not use /var/cache/ledmatrix: {e}")
 
         # Attempt 3: /opt/ledmatrix/cache (alternative persistent location)
         try:
             opt_cache_dir = '/opt/ledmatrix/cache'
-            os.makedirs(opt_cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
-            if os.access(opt_cache_dir, os.W_OK):
-                return opt_cache_dir
+            
+            # Check if directory exists and we can write to it
+            if os.path.exists(opt_cache_dir):
+                # Test if we can write to the existing directory
+                test_file = os.path.join(opt_cache_dir, '.writetest')
+                try:
+                    with open(test_file, 'w') as f:
+                        f.write('test')
+                    os.remove(test_file)
+                    return opt_cache_dir
+                except (IOError, OSError):
+                    self.logger.warning(f"Directory exists but is not writable: {opt_cache_dir}")
+            else:
+                # Try to create the directory
+                os.makedirs(opt_cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+                if os.access(opt_cache_dir, os.W_OK):
+                    return opt_cache_dir
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.warning(f"Could not use /opt/ledmatrix/cache: {e}")