diff --git a/packages/addons/emulators/mame/scripts/start.sh b/packages/addons/emulators/mame/scripts/start.sh
index d340e3030e..b98ca9d0a1 100755
--- a/packages/addons/emulators/mame/scripts/start.sh
+++ b/packages/addons/emulators/mame/scripts/start.sh
@@ -30,4 +30,7 @@
   mkdir -p $HOME/emulators/mame/cheat
   mkdir -p $HOME/emulators/mame/crosshair
 
+# fix permissions lost after unpack
+  chmod +x ./bin/mame
+
 ./bin/mame $@