diff --git a/xinstall.c b/xinstall.c
index 4cd5122..d0069be 100644
--- a/xinstall.c
+++ b/xinstall.c
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ install(const char *s1, const char *s2, int depth)
 		}
 		concat(f1, s1, f2, s2);
 
-		fchmod(fileno(f2), mode);
+		if (fchmod(fileno(f2), mode) < 0)
+			eprintf("fchmod %s:", s2);
 
 		if (fclose(f2) == EOF)
 			eprintf("fclose %s:", s2);