diff --git a/gnupg/_meta.py b/gnupg/_meta.py
index 53d7620..c124a54 100644
--- a/gnupg/_meta.py
+++ b/gnupg/_meta.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class GPGBase(object):
 
     def __init__(self, binary=None, home=None, keyring=None, secring=None,
                  use_agent=False, default_preference_list=None,
-                 verbose=False, options=None):
+                 ignore_homedir_permissions=False, verbose=False, options=None):
         """Create a ``GPGBase``.
 
         This class is used to set up properties for controlling the behaviour
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ class GPGBase(object):
         :ivar str secring: The filename in **homedir** to use as the keyring
                            file for secret keys.
         """
+        self.ignore_homedir_permissions = ignore_homedir_permissions
         self.binary  = _util._find_binary(binary)
         self.homedir = os.path.expanduser(home) if home else _util._conf
         pub = _parsers._fix_unsafe(keyring) if keyring else 'pubring.gpg'
@@ -369,18 +370,21 @@ class GPGBase(object):
             log.debug("GPGBase._homedir_setter(): Check existence of '%s'" % hd)
             _util._create_if_necessary(hd)
 
-        try:
-            log.debug("GPGBase._homedir_setter(): checking permissions")
-            assert _util._has_readwrite(hd), \
-                "Homedir '%s' needs read/write permissions" % hd
-        except AssertionError as ae:
-            msg = ("Unable to set '%s' as GnuPG homedir" % directory)
-            log.debug("GPGBase.homedir.setter(): %s" % msg)
-            log.debug(str(ae))
-            raise RuntimeError(str(ae))
-        else:
-            log.info("Setting homedir to '%s'" % hd)
+        if self.ignore_homedir_permissions:
             self._homedir = hd
+        else:
+            try:
+                log.debug("GPGBase._homedir_setter(): checking permissions")
+                assert _util._has_readwrite(hd), \
+                    "Homedir '%s' needs read/write permissions" % hd
+            except AssertionError as ae:
+                msg = ("Unable to set '%s' as GnuPG homedir" % directory)
+                log.debug("GPGBase.homedir.setter(): %s" % msg)
+                log.debug(str(ae))
+                raise RuntimeError(str(ae))
+            else:
+                log.info("Setting homedir to '%s'" % hd)
+                self._homedir = hd
 
     homedir = _util.InheritableProperty(_homedir_getter, _homedir_setter)
 
diff --git a/gnupg/gnupg.py b/gnupg/gnupg.py
index 42498db..14f0186 100644
--- a/gnupg/gnupg.py
+++ b/gnupg/gnupg.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class GPG(GPGBase):
 
     def __init__(self, binary=None, homedir=None, verbose=False,
                  use_agent=False, keyring=None, secring=None,
-                 options=None):
+                 ignore_homedir_permissions=False, options=None):
         """Initialize a GnuPG process wrapper.
 
         :param str binary: Name for GnuPG binary executable. If the absolute
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ class GPG(GPGBase):
                             and private keyrings. Default is whatever GnuPG
                             defaults to.
 
+        :type ignore_homedir_permissions: :obj:`bool`
+        :param ignore_homedir_permissions: If true, bypass check that homedir
+                                           be writable.
+
         :type verbose: :obj:`str` or :obj:`int` or :obj:`bool`
         :param verbose: String or numeric value to pass to GnuPG's
                         ``--debug-level`` option. See the GnuPG man page for
@@ -117,13 +121,16 @@ class GPG(GPGBase):
             secring=secring,
             options=options,
             verbose=verbose,
-            use_agent=use_agent,)
+            use_agent=use_agent,
+            ignore_homedir_permissions=ignore_homedir_permissions,
+        )
 
         log.info(textwrap.dedent("""
         Initialised settings:
         binary: %s
         binary version: %s
         homedir: %s
+        ignore_homedir_permissions: %s
         keyring: %s
         secring: %s
         default_preference_list: %s
@@ -134,6 +141,7 @@ class GPG(GPGBase):
         """ % (self.binary,
                self.binary_version,
                self.homedir,
+               self.ignore_homedir_permissions,
                self.keyring,
                self.secring,
                self.default_preference_list,