diff --git a/eeschema/files-io.cpp b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
index 1a5db21701..e9f8b8838b 100644
--- a/eeschema/files-io.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ void SCH_EDIT_FRAME::OnImportProject( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
 
         const IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC& desc = pi->GetSchematicFileDesc();
 
-        if( desc.m_FileExtensions.empty() )
+        if( desc.m_FileExtensions.empty() || !desc.m_CanRead )
             continue;
 
         if( !fileFiltersStr.IsEmpty() )
diff --git a/include/io/io_base.h b/include/io/io_base.h
index 0263ceb677..78640eca17 100644
--- a/include/io/io_base.h
+++ b/include/io/io_base.h
@@ -41,12 +41,15 @@ public:
         std::vector<std::string> m_FileExtensions; ///< Filter used for file pickers if m_IsFile is true
         std::vector<std::string> m_ExtensionsInDir; ///< In case of folders: extensions of files inside
         bool                     m_IsFile;          ///< Whether the library is a folder or a file
+        bool                     m_CanRead;         ///< Whether the IO can read this file type
+        bool                     m_CanWrite;        ///< Whether the IO can write this file type
 
         IO_FILE_DESC( const wxString& aDescription, const std::vector<std::string>& aFileExtensions,
-                      const std::vector<std::string>& aExtsInFolder = {}, bool aIsFile = true ) :
+                      const std::vector<std::string>& aExtsInFolder = {}, bool aIsFile = true,
+                      bool aCanRead = true, bool aCanWrite = true ) :
                 m_Description( aDescription ),
                 m_FileExtensions( aFileExtensions ), m_ExtensionsInDir( aExtsInFolder ),
-                m_IsFile( aIsFile )
+                m_IsFile( aIsFile ), m_CanRead( aCanRead ), m_CanWrite( aCanWrite )
         {
         }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/files.cpp b/pcbnew/files.cpp
index 426cd291f5..e37d925e19 100644
--- a/pcbnew/files.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/files.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ bool AskLoadBoardFileName( PCB_EDIT_FRAME* aParent, wxString* aFileName, int aCt
 
         const IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC& desc = pi->GetBoardFileDesc();
 
-        if( desc.m_FileExtensions.empty() )
+        if( desc.m_FileExtensions.empty() || !desc.m_CanRead )
             continue;
 
         descriptions.emplace_back( desc );
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_io/ipc2581/pcb_io_ipc2581.h b/pcbnew/pcb_io/ipc2581/pcb_io_ipc2581.h
index a2317736ea..89261d89ac 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_io/ipc2581/pcb_io_ipc2581.h
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_io/ipc2581/pcb_io_ipc2581.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public:
 
     const IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC GetBoardFileDesc() const override
     {
-        return IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC( wxEmptyString, {} );
+        return IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC( wxEmptyString, {}, {}, false, false, true );
     }
 
     const IO_BASE::IO_FILE_DESC GetLibraryDesc() const override