diff --git a/libtool-kill-dependency_libs.sh b/libtool-kill-dependency_libs.sh
index 3d5f318b3d..73489df339 100755
--- a/libtool-kill-dependency_libs.sh
+++ b/libtool-kill-dependency_libs.sh
@@ -51,10 +51,9 @@ done
 "${args[@]}"
 
 if [ -n "$output" ]; then
-    mv "$output" "$output.tmp"
+    cp -p "$output" "$output.tmp"
 
     # Remove dependency_libs from output.
     sed "s/^dependency_libs=.*/dependency_libs=''/" < "$output.tmp" > "$output"
-    chmod --reference="$output.tmp" "$output"
     rm "$output.tmp"
 fi