diff --git a/lib/fpm/package/deb.rb b/lib/fpm/package/deb.rb
index f031e543b0..437e65b29d 100644
--- a/lib/fpm/package/deb.rb
+++ b/lib/fpm/package/deb.rb
@@ -626,6 +626,7 @@ def write_md5sums
           out.puts "#{md5} #{path}"
         end
       end
+      File.chmod(0644, control_path("md5sums"))
     end
   end # def write_md5sums