diff --git a/setup/start.sh b/setup/start.sh
index bd743ac5..0626ab01 100755
--- a/setup/start.sh
+++ b/setup/start.sh
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ fi
 fi
 
 # Create the STORAGE_USER and STORAGE_ROOT directory if they don't already exist.
+#
+# Set the directory and all of its parent directories' permissions to world
+# readable since it holds files owned by different processes.
+#
 # If the STORAGE_ROOT is missing the mailinabox.version file that lists a
 # migration (schema) number for the files stored there, assume this is a fresh
 # installation to that directory and write the file to contain the current
@@ -77,6 +81,8 @@ fi
 if [ ! -d $STORAGE_ROOT ]; then
 	mkdir -p $STORAGE_ROOT
 fi
+f=$STORAGE_ROOT
+while [[ $f != / ]]; do chmod a+rx "$f"; f=$(dirname "$f"); done;
 if [ ! -f $STORAGE_ROOT/mailinabox.version ]; then
 	setup/migrate.py --current > $STORAGE_ROOT/mailinabox.version
 	chown $STORAGE_USER.$STORAGE_USER $STORAGE_ROOT/mailinabox.version