diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index e85b4bf047..beff2d71d3 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_rsynced:
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Syncing from source dir $(SRCDIR)")
 	@test -d $(SRCDIR) || (echo "ERROR: $(SRCDIR) does not exist" ; exit 1)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_RSYNC_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
-	rsync -au $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) $(call qstrip,$(SRCDIR))/ $(@D)
+	rsync -au --chmod=u=rwX,go=rX $(RSYNC_VCS_EXCLUSIONS) $(call qstrip,$(SRCDIR))/ $(@D)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_RSYNC_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 	$(Q)touch $@