diff --git a/builtin_set.cpp b/builtin_set.cpp
index 9068372f0..aae87550d 100644
--- a/builtin_set.cpp
+++ b/builtin_set.cpp
@@ -157,6 +157,13 @@ static int my_env_set(const wchar_t *key, const wcstring_list_t &val, int scope)
             break;
         }
 
+        case ENV_SCOPE:
+        {
+            append_format(stderr_buffer, _(L"%ls: Tried to set the special variable '%ls' with the wrong scope\n"), L"set", key);
+            retcode=1;
+            break;
+        }
+
         case ENV_INVALID:
         {
             append_format(stderr_buffer, _(L"%ls: Unknown error"), L"set");
diff --git a/env.cpp b/env.cpp
index 821bd8f1b..77ee75aa5 100644
--- a/env.cpp
+++ b/env.cpp
@@ -634,6 +634,15 @@ int env_set(const wcstring &key, const wchar_t *val, int var_mode)
         }
     }
 
+    if ((var_mode & (ENV_LOCAL | ENV_UNIVERSAL)) && (is_read_only(key) || is_electric(key)))
+    {
+        return ENV_SCOPE;
+    }
+    if ((var_mode & ENV_EXPORT) && is_electric(key))
+    {
+        return ENV_SCOPE;
+    }
+
     if ((var_mode & ENV_USER) && is_read_only(key))
     {
         return ENV_PERM;
diff --git a/env.h b/env.h
index e886a5b2c..a0931c87f 100644
--- a/env.h
+++ b/env.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 enum
 {
     ENV_PERM = 1,
+    ENV_SCOPE,
     ENV_INVALID
 }
 ;
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ void env_init(const struct config_paths_t *paths = NULL);
    The current error codes are:
 
    * ENV_PERM, can only be returned when setting as a user, e.g. ENV_USER is set. This means that the user tried to change a read-only variable.
+   * ENV_SCOPE, the variable cannot be set in the given scope. This applies to readonly/electric variables set from the local or universal scopes, or set as exported.
    * ENV_INVALID, the variable name or mode was invalid
 */