diff --git a/rootdir/init.rc b/rootdir/init.rc
index 5d0e84857..11b838358 100644
--- a/rootdir/init.rc
+++ b/rootdir/init.rc
@@ -433,6 +433,8 @@ on post-fs-data
     mkdir /data/misc/update_engine 0700 root root
     mkdir /data/misc/update_engine_log 02750 root log
     mkdir /data/misc/trace 0700 root root
+    # create location to store surface and window trace files
+    mkdir /data/misc/wmtrace 0700 system system
     # profile file layout
     mkdir /data/misc/profiles 0771 system system
     mkdir /data/misc/profiles/cur 0771 system system
@@ -731,6 +733,8 @@ on property:ro.debuggable=1
     # Give writes to anyone for the trace folder on debug builds.
     # The folder is used to store method traces.
     chmod 0773 /data/misc/trace
+    # Give reads to anyone for the window trace folder on debug builds.
+    chmod 0775 /data/misc/wmtrace
     start console
 
 service flash_recovery /system/bin/install-recovery.sh