diff --git a/resources/contacts/contactsresource.cpp b/resources/contacts/contactsresource.cpp
--- a/resources/contacts/contactsresource.cpp
+++ b/resources/contacts/contactsresource.cpp
@@ -253,7 +253,11 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        KContacts::ContactGroupTool::convertToXml(group, &file);
+        QString *errorMessage = new QString();
+        if (!KContacts::ContactGroupTool::convertToXml(group, &file, errorMessage)) {
+            cancelTask(i18n("Unable to write to file '%1': %2", fileName, *errorMessage));
+        }
+        delete errorMessage;
 
         file.close();
 
@@ -300,7 +304,11 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        KContacts::ContactGroupTool::convertToXml(group, &file);
+        QString *errorMessage = new QString();
+        if (!KContacts::ContactGroupTool::convertToXml(group, &file, errorMessage)) {
+            cancelTask(i18n("Unable to write to file '%1': %2", fileName, *errorMessage));
+        }
+        delete errorMessage;
 
         file.close();