diff -up mc-2007-06-04-22/src/file.c.preserveattr mc-2007-06-04-22/src/file.c

--- mc-2007-06-04-22/src/file.c.preserveattr	2007-11-14 14:45:23.000000000 +0100

+++ mc-2007-06-04-22/src/file.c	2007-11-14 14:45:23.000000000 +0100

@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ copy_file_file (FileOpContext *ctx, cons

 	    }

 	}

-	if (!appending) {

+	if (!appending && ctx->preserve) {

 	    while (mc_chmod (dst_path, (src_mode & ctx->umask_kill))) {

 		temp_status = file_error (

 			_(" Cannot chmod target file \"%s\" \n %s "), dst_path);