diff --git a/lib/ipc_setup.c b/lib/ipc_setup.c
index 1ef53b9..464de07 100644
--- a/lib/ipc_setup.c
+++ b/lib/ipc_setup.c
@@ -660,11 +660,12 @@ handle_new_connection(struct qb_ipcs_service *s,
 		res = -errno;
 		goto send_response;
 	}
-	res = chown(c->description, c->auth.uid, c->auth.gid);
-	if (res != 0) {
+	if (chmod(c->description, 0770)) {
 		res = -errno;
 		goto send_response;
 	}
+	/* chown can fail because we might not be root */
+	(void)chown(c->description, c->auth.uid, c->auth.gid);
 
 	/* We can't pass just a directory spec to the clients */
 	strncat(c->description,"/qb", CONNECTION_DESCRIPTION);