diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+## 2.2.1.1
+
+Query pg_catalog instead of information_schema for metadata.
+This helps with permission issues as reported in issue #501
+
 ## 2.2.1
 
 * Fix treatment of `NULL`s inside arrays.  For example, now you
diff --git a/Database/Persist/Postgresql.hs b/Database/Persist/Postgresql.hs
--- a/Database/Persist/Postgresql.hs
+++ b/Database/Persist/Postgresql.hs
@@ -406,7 +406,8 @@
     stmt <- getter sql
     with (stmtQuery stmt vals) ($$ start)
   where
-    sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_name=?"
+    sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM pg_catalog.pg_tables WHERE schemaname != 'pg_catalog'"
+          <> " AND schemaname != 'information_schema' AND tablename=?"
     vals = [PersistText name]
 
     start = await >>= maybe (error "No results when checking doesTableExist") start'
diff --git a/persistent-postgresql.cabal b/persistent-postgresql.cabal
--- a/persistent-postgresql.cabal
+++ b/persistent-postgresql.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:            persistent-postgresql
-version:         2.2.1
+version:         2.2.1.1
 license:         MIT
 license-file:    LICENSE
 author:          Felipe Lessa, Michael Snoyman <michael@snoyman.com>