diff --git a/c/zss.c b/c/zss.c
index 3df8d3dc8..c1e73298b 100644
--- a/c/zss.c
+++ b/c/zss.c
@@ -795,6 +795,17 @@ static int validateConfigPermissionsInner(const char *path) {
   return 0;
 }
 
+#ifdef ZSS_IGNORE_PERMISSION_PROBLEMS
+
+static int validateFilePermissions(const char *filePath) {
+  zowelog(NULL, LOG_COMP_ID_MVD_SERVER, ZOWE_LOG_SEVERE,
+    "Skipping validation of file permissions: disabled during compilation, "
+    "file %s.\n", filePath);
+  return 0;
+}
+
+#else /* ZSS_IGNORE_PERMISSION_PROBLEMS */
+
 /* Validates that both file AND parent folder meet requirements */
 static int validateFilePermissions(const char *filePath) {
   if (!filePath) {
@@ -828,6 +839,8 @@ static int validateFilePermissions(const char *filePath) {
   }
 }
 
+#endif /* ZSS_IGNORE_PERMISSION_PROBLEMS */
+
 int main(int argc, char **argv){
   if (argc == 1) { 
     printf("Usage: zssServer <path to zssServer.json or zluxServer.json file>\n");