diff --git a/library/HTMLPurifier/DefinitionCache/Serializer.php b/library/HTMLPurifier/DefinitionCache/Serializer.php
index f930c6b9..426ad185 100644
--- a/library/HTMLPurifier/DefinitionCache/Serializer.php
+++ b/library/HTMLPurifier/DefinitionCache/Serializer.php
@@ -198,11 +198,8 @@ class HTMLPurifier_DefinitionCache_Serializer extends HTMLPurifier_DefinitionCac
         if ($result !== false) {
             // set permissions of the new file (no execute)
             $chmod = $config->get('Cache.SerializerPermissions');
-            if ($chmod === null) {
-                // don't do anything
-            } else {
-                $chmod = $chmod & 0666;
-                chmod($file, $chmod);
+            if ($chmod !== null) {
+                chmod($file, $chmod & 0666);
             }
         }
         return $result;
@@ -229,14 +226,6 @@ class HTMLPurifier_DefinitionCache_Serializer extends HTMLPurifier_DefinitionCac
             } elseif (!$this->_testPermissions($base, $chmod)) {
                 return false;
             }
-            if ($chmod === null) {
-                trigger_error(
-                    'Base directory ' . $base . ' does not exist,
-                    please create or change using %Cache.SerializerPath',
-                    E_USER_WARNING
-                );
-                return false;
-            }
             if ($chmod !== null) {
                 mkdir($directory, $chmod);
             } else {