diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h b/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h
index b667378ef313..67751b828f2d 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@
 /* Define if you have the connect function.  */
 /* #undef HAVE_CONNECT */
 
+/* Define if this system supports chown(), link(), and friends.  */
+#define PRESERVE_PERMISSIONS_SUPPORT 1
+
 /* Define if you have memchr (always for CVS).  */
 #define HAVE_MEMCHR 1
 
diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h.proto b/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h.proto
index b667378ef313..67751b828f2d 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h.proto
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/cvs/lib/config.h.proto
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@
 /* Define if you have the connect function.  */
 /* #undef HAVE_CONNECT */
 
+/* Define if this system supports chown(), link(), and friends.  */
+#define PRESERVE_PERMISSIONS_SUPPORT 1
+
 /* Define if you have memchr (always for CVS).  */
 #define HAVE_MEMCHR 1