diff --git a/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts b/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
index 493ebd5e23..64e3613f5e 100644
--- a/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
+++ b/cli/js/lib.deno.ns.d.ts
@@ -405,9 +405,6 @@ declare namespace Deno {
   export function cwd(): string;
 
   /**
-   * **UNSTABLE**: Currently under evaluation to decide if explicit permission is
-   * required to change the current working directory.
-   *
    * Change the current working directory to the specified path.
    *
    *       Deno.chdir("/home/userA");
@@ -417,6 +414,8 @@ declare namespace Deno {
    * Throws `Deno.errors.NotFound` if directory not found.
    * Throws `Deno.errors.PermissionDenied` if the user does not have access
    * rights
+   *
+   * Requires --allow-write.
    */
   export function chdir(directory: string): void;
 
diff --git a/cli/ops/fs.rs b/cli/ops/fs.rs
index 6b259e033a..c46da6c045 100644
--- a/cli/ops/fs.rs
+++ b/cli/ops/fs.rs
@@ -245,12 +245,14 @@ struct ChdirArgs {
 }
 
 fn op_chdir(
-  _state: &State,
+  state: &State,
   args: Value,
   _zero_copy: Option<ZeroCopyBuf>,
 ) -> Result<JsonOp, OpError> {
   let args: ChdirArgs = serde_json::from_value(args)?;
-  set_current_dir(&args.directory)?;
+  let d = PathBuf::from(&args.directory);
+  state.check_write(&d)?;
+  set_current_dir(&d)?;
   Ok(JsonOp::Sync(json!({})))
 }