diff --git a/Lib/ftplib.py b/Lib/ftplib.py
index 42f2bff..7e678b4 100644
--- a/Lib/ftplib.py
+++ b/Lib/ftplib.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
     def voidresp(self):
         """Expect a response beginning with '2'."""
         resp = self.getresp()
-        if resp[0] != '2':
+        if resp[:1] != '2':
             raise error_reply(resp)
         return resp
 
@@ -522,8 +522,6 @@
         resp = self.sendcmd('DELE ' + filename)
         if resp[:3] in ('250', '200'):
             return resp
-        elif resp[:1] == '5':
-            raise error_perm(resp)
         else:
             raise error_reply(resp)