diff --git a/xinstall.c b/xinstall.c
index e102c4c..bb973e8 100644
--- a/xinstall.c
+++ b/xinstall.c
@@ -55,16 +55,14 @@ install(const char *s1, const char *s2, int depth)
 	}
 	if (concat(f1, s1, f2, s2) < 0)
 		exit(1);
-
 	if (fchmod(f2, mode) < 0)
 		eprintf("fchmod %s:", s2);
+	if (fchown(f2, owner, group) < 0)
+		eprintf("lchown %s:", s2);
 
 	close(f1);
 	close(f2);
 
-	if (lchown(s2, owner, group) < 0)
-		eprintf("lchown %s:", s2);
-
 	return 0;
 }