diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index 48b2e74..d64cb64 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -143,11 +143,14 @@ int snac_init(const char *basedir)
         }
     }
 
-    if (mkdir(srv_basedir, 0775) == -1) {
+    if (mkdir(srv_basedir, DIR_PERM) == -1) {
         printf("ERROR: cannot create directory '%s'\n", srv_basedir);
         return 1;
     }
 
+    /* force permissions (mkdir also uses 777) */
+    chmod(srv_basedir, DIR_PERM);
+
     xs *udir = xs_fmt("%s/user", srv_basedir);
     mkdir(udir, DIR_PERM);