diff --git a/tar-tree.c b/tar-tree.c
index 96bd1438d9..f749d4b869 100644
--- a/tar-tree.c
+++ b/tar-tree.c
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		archive_time = time(NULL);
 	if (basedir)
 		write_header((unsigned char *)"0", TYPEFLAG_DIR, NULL, NULL,
-			basedir, 040755, NULL, 0);
+			basedir, 040777, NULL, 0);
 	traverse_tree(buffer, size, NULL);
 	free(buffer);
 	write_trailer();