diff --git a/coreutils/touch.c b/coreutils/touch.c
index 6c0201374..4c7362acd 100644
--- a/coreutils/touch.c
+++ b/coreutils/touch.c
@@ -153,11 +153,14 @@ int touch_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		timebuf[1].tv_sec = timebuf[0].tv_sec = t;
 		timebuf[1].tv_nsec = timebuf[0].tv_nsec = 0;
 	}
-	if (opts & OPT_a) {
-		timebuf[1].tv_nsec = UTIME_OMIT;
-	}
-	if (opts & OPT_m) {
-		timebuf[0].tv_nsec = UTIME_OMIT;
+	/* If both -a and -m specified, both times should be set.
+	 * IOW: set OMIT only if one, not both, of them is given!
+	 */
+	if ((opts & (OPT_a|OPT_m)) != (OPT_a|OPT_m)) {
+		if (opts & OPT_a)
+			timebuf[1].tv_nsec = UTIME_OMIT;
+		if (opts & OPT_m)
+			timebuf[0].tv_nsec = UTIME_OMIT;
 	}
 
 	argv += optind;