diff --git a/gns3server/modules/base_vm.py b/gns3server/modules/base_vm.py
index cfbcc2a2..4d315167 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/base_vm.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/base_vm.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import asyncio
 import tempfile
 
 from ..utils.asyncio import wait_run_in_executor
+from .vm_error import VMError
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -132,7 +133,10 @@ class BaseVM:
     @property
     def temporary_directory(self):
         if self._temporary_directory is None:
-            self._temporary_directory = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+            try:
+                self._temporary_directory = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+            except OSError as e:
+                raise VMError("Can't create temporary directory: {}".format(e))
         return self._temporary_directory
 
     def create(self):
diff --git a/gns3server/modules/iou/iou_vm.py b/gns3server/modules/iou/iou_vm.py
index f73aa2a2..f195c2ed 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/iou/iou_vm.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/iou/iou_vm.py
@@ -332,14 +332,21 @@ class IOUVM(BaseVM):
 
     @property
     def iourc_content(self):
-        with open(os.path.join(self.temporary_directory, "iourc")) as f:
-            return f.read()
+        try:
+            with open(os.path.join(self.temporary_directory, "iourc")) as f:
+                return f.read()
+        except OSError:
+            return None
 
     @iourc_content.setter
     def iourc_content(self, value):
         if value is not None:
-            with open(os.path.join(self.temporary_directory, "iourc"), "w+") as f:
-                f.write(value)
+            path = os.path.join(self.temporary_directory, "iourc")
+            try:
+                with open(path, "w+") as f:
+                    f.write(value)
+            except OSError as e:
+                raise IOUError("Could not write iourc file {}: {}".format(path, e))
 
     @asyncio.coroutine
     def _library_check(self):