The install tries to create files in /var. This patch removes those steps. --- wicd-1.7.2.4/setup.py 2013-03-14 21:28:21.360580941 +0100 +++ wicd-1.7.2.4/setup.py 2013-03-14 21:22:50.125721943 +0100 @@ -505,11 +505,8 @@ (wpath.dbus_service, ['other/org.wicd.daemon.service']), (wpath.systemd, ['other/wicd.service']), (wpath.logrotate, ['other/wicd.logrotate']), - (wpath.log, [empty_file]), - (wpath.etc, ['other/dhclient.conf.template.default']), (wpath.encryption, [('encryption/templates/' + b) for b in os.listdir('encryption/templates') if not b.startswith('.')]), - (wpath.networks, [empty_file]), (wpath.sbin, ['scripts/wicd']), (wpath.daemon, ['wicd/monitor.py', 'wicd/wicd-daemon.py', 'wicd/suspend.py', 'wicd/autoconnect.py']),