diff --git a/jedi/api/project.py b/jedi/api/project.py
index 415543144..4ba6b7d08 100644
--- a/jedi/api/project.py
+++ b/jedi/api/project.py
@@ -366,8 +366,11 @@ def __repr__(self):
 
 def _is_potential_project(path):
     for name in _CONTAINS_POTENTIAL_PROJECT:
-        if path.joinpath(name).exists():
-            return True
+        try:
+            if path.joinpath(name).exists():
+                return True
+        except PermissionError:
+            continue
     return False
 
 
diff --git a/jedi/inference/sys_path.py b/jedi/inference/sys_path.py
index 48b9ac897..9dd588dbe 100644
--- a/jedi/inference/sys_path.py
+++ b/jedi/inference/sys_path.py
@@ -171,8 +171,11 @@ def _get_paths_from_buildout_script(inference_state, buildout_script_path):
 
 def _get_parent_dir_with_file(path: Path, filename):
     for parent in path.parents:
-        if parent.joinpath(filename).is_file():
-            return parent
+        try:
+            if parent.joinpath(filename).is_file():
+                return parent
+        except PermissionError:
+            continue
     return None