diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index f8b27d3a..0580c156 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 xbps-0.32 (???):
 
+ * xbps-rindex(8): set correct permissions to the POSIX semaphore
+   by clearing file permission bits before its creation.
+
 xbps-0.31 (2014-02-01):
 
  * xbps-rindex(8): use a POSIX named semaphore in modes that can modify
diff --git a/bin/xbps-rindex/sem.c b/bin/xbps-rindex/sem.c
index 8684af12..8cdfa671 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-rindex/sem.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-rindex/sem.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ struct idxlock *
 index_lock(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 {
 	struct idxlock *il;
+	mode_t myumask;
 
 	if ((il = malloc(sizeof(struct idxlock))) == NULL)
 		return NULL;
@@ -48,7 +49,10 @@ index_lock(struct xbps_handle *xhp)
 	/*
 	 * Create/open the POSIX named semaphore.
 	 */
+	myumask = umask(0);
 	il->sem = sem_open(il->semname, O_CREAT, 0660, 1);
+	umask(myumask);
+
 	if (il->sem == SEM_FAILED) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s: failed to create/open named "
 		    "semaphore: %s\n", _XBPS_RINDEX, strerror(errno));