diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go b/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
index dced8f9edd2a..6869a6e5b1cc 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/daemon.go
@@ -409,9 +409,9 @@ func serveHTTPApi(req cmds.Request) (error, <-chan error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serveHTTPApi: Option(%s) failed: %s", unrestrictedApiAccessKwd, err), nil
 	}
-	gatewayOpt := corehttp.GatewayOption(corehttp.WebUIPaths...)
+	gatewayOpt := corehttp.GatewayOption(false, corehttp.WebUIPaths...)
 	if unrestricted {
-		gatewayOpt = corehttp.GatewayOption("/ipfs", "/ipns")
+		gatewayOpt = corehttp.GatewayOption(true, "/ipfs", "/ipns")
 	}
 
 	var opts = []corehttp.ServeOption{
@@ -480,8 +480,8 @@ func serveHTTPGateway(req cmds.Request) (error, <-chan error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("serveHTTPGateway: req.Option(%s) failed: %s", writableKwd, err), nil
 	}
-	if writableOptionFound {
-		cfg.Gateway.Writable = writable
+	if !writableOptionFound {
+		writable = cfg.Gateway.Writable
 	}
 
 	gwLis, err := manet.Listen(gatewayMaddr)
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ func serveHTTPGateway(req cmds.Request) (error, <-chan error) {
 		corehttp.CommandsROOption(*req.InvocContext()),
 		corehttp.VersionOption(),
 		corehttp.IPNSHostnameOption(),
-		corehttp.GatewayOption("/ipfs", "/ipns"),
+		corehttp.GatewayOption(writable, "/ipfs", "/ipns"),
 	}
 
 	if len(cfg.Gateway.RootRedirect) > 0 {
diff --git a/cmd/ipfswatch/main.go b/cmd/ipfswatch/main.go
index 4b50590cf5bb..a7474321cd69 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfswatch/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfswatch/main.go
@@ -85,12 +85,11 @@ func run(ipfsPath, watchPath string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cfg.Gateway.Writable = true
 
 	if *http {
 		addr := "/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/5001"
 		var opts = []corehttp.ServeOption{
-			corehttp.GatewayOption("/ipfs", "/ipns"),
+			corehttp.GatewayOption(true, "/ipfs", "/ipns"),
 			corehttp.WebUIOption,
 			corehttp.CommandsOption(cmdCtx(node, ipfsPath)),
 		}
diff --git a/core/corehttp/gateway.go b/core/corehttp/gateway.go
index 869fbf8151da..06e073297793 100644
--- a/core/corehttp/gateway.go
+++ b/core/corehttp/gateway.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type GatewayConfig struct {
 	PathPrefixes []string
 }
 
-func GatewayOption(paths ...string) ServeOption {
+func GatewayOption(writable bool, paths ...string) ServeOption {
 	return func(n *core.IpfsNode, _ net.Listener, mux *http.ServeMux) (*http.ServeMux, error) {
 		cfg, err := n.Repo.Config()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func GatewayOption(paths ...string) ServeOption {
 
 		gateway := newGatewayHandler(n, GatewayConfig{
 			Headers:      cfg.Gateway.HTTPHeaders,
-			Writable:     cfg.Gateway.Writable,
+			Writable:     writable,
 			PathPrefixes: cfg.Gateway.PathPrefixes,
 		})
 
diff --git a/test/sharness/t0111-gateway-writeable.sh b/test/sharness/t0111-gateway-writeable.sh
index 7b0f83d8413f..a085dd020f50 100755
--- a/test/sharness/t0111-gateway-writeable.sh
+++ b/test/sharness/t0111-gateway-writeable.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,16 @@ test_description="Test HTTP Gateway (Writable)"
 . lib/test-lib.sh
 
 test_init_ipfs
+
+test_launch_ipfs_daemon --writable
+
+test_expect_success "ipfs daemon --writable overrides config" '
+  curl -v -X POST http://$GWAY_ADDR/ipfs/ 2> outfile &&
+  grep "HTTP/1.1 201 Created" outfile &&
+  grep "Location: /ipfs/QmbFMke1KXqnYyBBWxB74N4c5SBnJMVAiMNRcGu6x1AwQH" outfile
+'
+
+test_kill_ipfs_daemon
 test_config_ipfs_gateway_writable
 test_launch_ipfs_daemon