diff --git a/etc/Makefile b/etc/Makefile
index 12508d07cdfe..46f262dd081b 100644
--- a/etc/Makefile
+++ b/etc/Makefile
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ distribution:
 	    ${DESTDIR}/var/db/locate.database
 	${INSTALL} -c -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 /dev/null \
 	    ${DESTDIR}/var/log/lpd-errs
-	${INSTALL} -c -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 /dev/null \
+	${INSTALL} -c -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 640 /dev/null \
 	    ${DESTDIR}/var/log/maillog
 	${INSTALL} -c -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 /dev/null \
 	    ${DESTDIR}/var/log/lastlog