diff --git a/src/scripts/zeoup.py b/src/scripts/zeoup.py
index efa084ebfe7bdf724d839cf242ef172471de4ec8..c67178fcedf3f70f5a984293e7b481302fc442c5 100755
--- a/src/scripts/zeoup.py
+++ b/src/scripts/zeoup.py
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ ZEO_VERSION = 2
 
 def check_server(addr, storage, write):
     if ZEO_VERSION == 2:
-        cs = ClientStorage(addr, storage=storage, wait=1, read_only=1)
+        cs = ClientStorage(addr, storage=storage, wait=1,
+                           read_only=(not write))
     else:
         cs = ClientStorage(addr, storage=storage, debug=1,
                            wait_for_server_on_startup=1)