diff --git a/lisp/ob-tangle.el b/lisp/ob-tangle.el
index 622a0a1c5..1d5bf9e2a 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-tangle.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-tangle.el
@@ -264,12 +264,8 @@ exported source code blocks by language."
 			    (goto-char (point-max))
 			    (insert content)
 			    (write-region nil nil file-name))))
-		      (set-file-modes
-		       file-name
-		       ;; never writable (don't accidentally edit tangled files)
-		       (if she-bang
-			   #o555 ;; files with she-bangs should be executable
-			 #o444)) ;; those without should not
+		      ;; if files contain she-bangs, then make the executable
+		      (when she-bang (set-file-modes file-name #o755))
 		      ;; update counter
 		      (setq block-counter (+ 1 block-counter))
 		      (add-to-list 'path-collector file-name)))))