diff --git a/gitian-building/gitian-building-setup-gitian-debian.md b/gitian-building/gitian-building-setup-gitian-debian.md
index fe7bf4b..b8f032e 100644
--- a/gitian-building/gitian-building-setup-gitian-debian.md
+++ b/gitian-building/gitian-building-setup-gitian-debian.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ echo 'ip addr add 10.0.3.2/24 broadcast 10.0.3.255 dev br0' >> /etc/rc.local
 echo 'ip link set br0 up' >> /etc/rc.local
 echo 'firewall-cmd --zone=trusted --add-interface=br0' >> /etc/rc.local
 echo 'exit 0' >> /etc/rc.local
+chmod +x /etc/rc.local
 # make sure that USE_LXC is always set when logging in as gitianuser,
 # and configure LXC IP addresses
 echo 'export USE_LXC=1' >> /home/gitianuser/.profile