Index: pym/portage/__init__.py
===================================================================
--- pym/portage/__init__.py	(revision 13375)
+++ pym/portage/__init__.py	(revision 13567)
@@ -3927,6 +3970,7 @@
 
 		myfile_path = os.path.join(mysettings["DISTDIR"], myfile)
 		has_space = True
+		has_space_superuser = False
 		file_lock = None
 		if listonly:
 			writemsg_stdout("\n", noiselevel=-1)
@@ -3944,8 +3988,29 @@
 					mysize = 0
 				if (size - mysize + vfs_stat.f_bsize) >= \
 					(vfs_stat.f_bsize * vfs_stat.f_bavail):
-					writemsg("!!! Insufficient space to store %s in %s\n" % (myfile, mysettings["DISTDIR"]), noiselevel=-1)
-					has_space = False
+
+					if (size - mysize + vfs_stat.f_bsize) >= \
+						(vfs_stat.f_bsize * vfs_stat.f_bfree):
+						has_space_superuser = True
+
+					if not has_space_superuser:
+						has_space = False
+					elif secpass < 2:
+						has_space = False
+					elif userfetch:
+						has_space = False
+
+			if not has_space:
+				writemsg("!!! Insufficient space to store %s in %s\n" % \
+					(myfile, mysettings["DISTDIR"]), noiselevel=-1)
+
+				if has_space_superuser:
+					writemsg("!!! Insufficient privileges to use " + \
+						"remaining space.\n", noiselevel=-1)
+					if userfetch:
+						writemsg("!!! You may set FEATURES=\"-userfetch\"" + \
+							" in /etc/make.conf in order to fetch with\n" + \
+							"!!! superuser privileges.\n", noiselevel=-1)
 
 			if distdir_writable and use_locks: