diff --git a/dd.c b/dd.c
index 977f0f0..e37c6c7 100644
--- a/dd.c
+++ b/dd.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static int
 prepare_copy(struct dd_config *ddc, int *ifd, int *ofd)
 {
 	struct stat st;
-	int fli = O_RDONLY|O_LARGEFILE|O_NOCTTY, flo = O_WRONLY|O_LARGEFILE|O_NOATIME|O_NOCTTY;
+	int fli = O_RDONLY|O_LARGEFILE|O_NOCTTY, flo = O_WRONLY|O_LARGEFILE|O_CREAT|O_NOATIME|O_NOCTTY;
 	uid_t euid = 0;
 	long pagesize;
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ prepare_copy(struct dd_config *ddc, int *ifd, int *ofd)
 	}
 
 	if (!ddc->seek)
-		flo |= O_CREAT|O_TRUNC;
+		flo |= O_TRUNC;
 
 	if (!ddc->out) *ofd = 1;
 	else if ((*ofd = open(ddc->out, flo, st.st_mode)) < 0) {