diff --git a/Lib/webbrowser.py b/Lib/webbrowser.py
index 31e1df42479..cea91308ce1 100755
--- a/Lib/webbrowser.py
+++ b/Lib/webbrowser.py
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def register_standard_browsers():
                 cmd = "xdg-settings get default-web-browser".split()
                 raw_result = subprocess.check_output(cmd, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
                 result = raw_result.decode().strip()
-            except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.CalledProcessError):
+            except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.CalledProcessError, PermissionError) :
                 pass
             else:
                 global _os_preferred_browser
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/macOS/2020-06-17-13-45-15.bpo-41005.zZegdV.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/macOS/2020-06-17-13-45-15.bpo-41005.zZegdV.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3b5f3f23a12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/macOS/2020-06-17-13-45-15.bpo-41005.zZegdV.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+fixed an XDG settings issue not allowing macos to open browser in webbrowser.py
\ No newline at end of file