diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/activities/MainActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/activities/MainActivity.java
index 563a0bc32..43700b0bd 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/activities/MainActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/activities/MainActivity.java
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
 package com.simplemobiletools.gallery.activities;
 
+import android.Manifest;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
 import android.database.Cursor;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.provider.MediaStore;
+import android.support.v4.app.ActivityCompat;
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
 import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.widget.AdapterView;
 import android.widget.AdapterView.OnItemClickListener;
 import android.widget.GridView;
+import android.widget.Toast;
 
 import com.simplemobiletools.gallery.Constants;
 import com.simplemobiletools.gallery.Directory;
@@ -24,16 +29,38 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
 public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements OnItemClickListener {
+    private final int STORAGE_PERMISSION = 1;
     private List<Directory> dirs;
 
     @Override
     protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
         setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
-        final GridView gridView = (GridView) findViewById(R.id.directories_grid);
+        if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+            initializeGallery();
+        } else {
+            ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE}, STORAGE_PERMISSION);
+        }
+    }
 
+    @Override
+    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, String[] permissions, int[] grantResults) {
+        super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);
+
+        if (requestCode == STORAGE_PERMISSION) {
+            if (grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+                initializeGallery();
+            } else {
+                Toast.makeText(this, getResources().getString(R.string.no_permissions), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void initializeGallery() {
         dirs = new ArrayList<>(getDirectories().values());
         final DirectoryAdapter adapter = new DirectoryAdapter(this, dirs);
+
+        final GridView gridView = (GridView) findViewById(R.id.directories_grid);
         gridView.setAdapter(adapter);
         gridView.setOnItemClickListener(this);
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 834e2a1e4..eb7526ece 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <resources>
     <string name="app_name">Simple Gallery</string>
     <string name="share_via">Share via</string>
+    <string name="no_permissions">Not much to do in a gallery without accessing your photos</string>
 </resources>