diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 067458b6a9..d8a8dad093 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS = \
 $(BUILD_DIR)/.root:
 	mkdir -p $(TARGET_DIR)
 	rsync -a $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
-		--exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
+		--chmod=Du+w --exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
 		$(TARGET_SKELETON)/ $(TARGET_DIR)/
 	cp support/misc/target-dir-warning.txt $(TARGET_DIR_WARNING_FILE)
 	@ln -snf lib $(TARGET_DIR)/$(LIB_SYMLINK)
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ endif
 	@$(foreach d, $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_OVERLAY)), \
 		$(call MESSAGE,"Copying overlay $(d)"); \
 		rsync -a $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) \
-			--exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
+			--chmod=Du+w --exclude .empty --exclude '*~' \
 			$(d)/ $(TARGET_DIR)$(sep))
 
 	@$(foreach s, $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT)), \