diff --git a/fast-import.c b/fast-import.c
index d58cca58e5..6d5ee6f463 100644
--- a/fast-import.c
+++ b/fast-import.c
@@ -1868,12 +1868,13 @@ static void file_change_m(struct branch *b)
 	if (!p)
 		die("Corrupt mode: %s", command_buf.buf);
 	switch (mode) {
+	case 0644:
+	case 0755:
+		mode |= S_IFREG;
 	case S_IFREG | 0644:
 	case S_IFREG | 0755:
 	case S_IFLNK:
 	case S_IFGITLINK:
-	case 0644:
-	case 0755:
 		/* ok */
 		break;
 	default:
@@ -1940,7 +1941,7 @@ static void file_change_m(struct branch *b)
 			    typename(type), command_buf.buf);
 	}
 
-	tree_content_set(&b->branch_tree, p, sha1, S_IFREG | mode, NULL);
+	tree_content_set(&b->branch_tree, p, sha1, mode, NULL);
 }
 
 static void file_change_d(struct branch *b)