diff --git a/srcpkgs/shadow/template b/srcpkgs/shadow/template
index 4b319338416..42e3508c49b 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/shadow/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/shadow/template
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ post_install() {
 	# Change default group to the users gid (100).
 	sed -i -e 's/^\(GROUP\)=\(.*\)$/\1=100/' ${DESTDIR}/etc/default/useradd
 
+	chmod 644 ${DESTDIR}/etc/default/useradd
+
 	# Install the cron daily job.
 	install -Dm744 ${FILESDIR}/shadow.cron-daily \
 		${DESTDIR}/etc/cron.daily/shadow