diff --git a/src/config.h b/src/config.h
index 7749a9c1a..43574a586 100644
--- a/src/config.h
+++ b/src/config.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 #define GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME ".gitconfig"
 #define GIT_CONFIG_FILENAME_INREPO "config"
+#define GIT_CONFIG_FILE_MODE 0666
 
 struct git_config {
 	git_vector files;
diff --git a/src/config_file.c b/src/config_file.c
index 3cf1bb2e2..aec29d4e2 100644
--- a/src/config_file.c
+++ b/src/config_file.c
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ static int config_write(diskfile_backend *cfg, cvar_t *var)
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&file);
 	else
-		error = git_filebuf_commit(&file);
+		error = git_filebuf_commit(&file, GIT_CONFIG_FILE_MODE);
 
 	git_futils_freebuffer(&cfg->reader.buffer);
 	return error;
diff --git a/src/fetch.c b/src/fetch.c
index ac7282819..af7dbaffd 100644
--- a/src/fetch.c
+++ b/src/fetch.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "transport.h"
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "refspec.h"
+#include "pack.h"
 #include "fetch.h"
 #include "netops.h"
 
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ int git_fetch__download_pack(char **out, const char *buffered, size_t buffered_s
 	}
 
 	/* A bit dodgy, but we need to keep the pack at the temporary path */
-	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&file, file.path_lock);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&file, file.path_lock, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
 cleanup:
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		git_filebuf_cleanup(&file);
diff --git a/src/filebuf.c b/src/filebuf.c
index 3f57d295d..1a3fe6d9b 100644
--- a/src/filebuf.c
+++ b/src/filebuf.c
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 #include "filebuf.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
 
+#define GIT_LOCK_FILE_MODE 0644
+
 static const size_t WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE = (4096 * 2);
 
 static int lock_file(git_filebuf *file, int flags)
@@ -23,9 +25,10 @@ static int lock_file(git_filebuf *file, int flags)
 
 	/* create path to the file buffer is required */
 	if (flags & GIT_FILEBUF_FORCE) {
-		file->fd = git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(file->path_lock, 0644);
+		/* XXX: Should dirmode here be configurable? Or is 0777 always fine? */
+		file->fd = git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(file->path_lock, 0777, GIT_LOCK_FILE_MODE);
 	} else {
-		file->fd = git_futils_creat_locked(file->path_lock, 0644);
+		file->fd = git_futils_creat_locked(file->path_lock, GIT_LOCK_FILE_MODE);
 	}
 
 	if (file->fd < 0)
@@ -246,17 +249,17 @@ int git_filebuf_hash(git_oid *oid, git_filebuf *file)
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-int git_filebuf_commit_at(git_filebuf *file, const char *path)
+int git_filebuf_commit_at(git_filebuf *file, const char *path, mode_t mode)
 {
 	git__free(file->path_original);
 	file->path_original = git__strdup(path);
 	if (file->path_original == NULL)
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	return git_filebuf_commit(file);
+	return git_filebuf_commit(file, mode);
 }
 
-int git_filebuf_commit(git_filebuf *file)
+int git_filebuf_commit(git_filebuf *file, mode_t mode)
 {
 	int error;
 
@@ -270,6 +273,11 @@ int git_filebuf_commit(git_filebuf *file)
 	p_close(file->fd);
 	file->fd = -1;
 
+	if (p_chmod(file->path_lock, mode)) {
+		error = git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to chmod locked file before committing");
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+
 	error = git_futils_mv_atomic(file->path_lock, file->path_original);
 
 cleanup:
diff --git a/src/filebuf.h b/src/filebuf.h
index 525ca3c81..d08505e8d 100644
--- a/src/filebuf.h
+++ b/src/filebuf.h
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ int git_filebuf_reserve(git_filebuf *file, void **buff, size_t len);
 int git_filebuf_printf(git_filebuf *file, const char *format, ...) GIT_FORMAT_PRINTF(2, 3);
 
 int git_filebuf_open(git_filebuf *lock, const char *path, int flags);
-int git_filebuf_commit(git_filebuf *lock);
-int git_filebuf_commit_at(git_filebuf *lock, const char *path);
+int git_filebuf_commit(git_filebuf *lock, mode_t mode);
+int git_filebuf_commit_at(git_filebuf *lock, const char *path, mode_t mode);
 void git_filebuf_cleanup(git_filebuf *lock);
 int git_filebuf_hash(git_oid *oid, git_filebuf *file);
 
diff --git a/src/fileops.c b/src/fileops.c
index c8de8d83d..2030c786d 100644
--- a/src/fileops.c
+++ b/src/fileops.c
@@ -31,9 +31,8 @@ int git_futils_mv_atomic(const char *from, const char *to)
 #endif
 }
 
-int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *file_path)
+int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *file_path, const mode_t mode)
 {
-	const int mode = 0755; /* or 0777 ? */
 	int error = GIT_SUCCESS;
 	char target_folder_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 
@@ -67,23 +66,23 @@ int git_futils_mktmp(char *path_out, const char *filename)
 	return fd;
 }
 
-int git_futils_creat_withpath(const char *path, int mode)
+int git_futils_creat_withpath(const char *path, const mode_t dirmode, const mode_t mode)
 {
-	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(path, dirmode) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create file %s", path);
 
 	return p_creat(path, mode);
 }
 
-int git_futils_creat_locked(const char *path, int mode)
+int git_futils_creat_locked(const char *path, const mode_t mode)
 {
 	int fd = open(path, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC | O_BINARY | O_EXCL, mode);
 	return fd >= 0 ? fd : git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create locked file. Could not open %s", path);
 }
 
-int git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(const char *path, int mode)
+int git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(const char *path, const mode_t dirmode, const mode_t mode)
 {
-	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(path) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(path, dirmode) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__throw(GIT_EOSERR, "Failed to create locked file %s", path);
 
 	return git_futils_creat_locked(path, mode);
@@ -212,9 +211,9 @@ void git_futils_freebuffer(git_fbuffer *obj)
 }
 
 
-int git_futils_mv_withpath(const char *from, const char *to)
+int git_futils_mv_withpath(const char *from, const char *to, const mode_t dirmode)
 {
-	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(to) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if (git_futils_mkpath2file(to, dirmode) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return GIT_EOSERR;	/* The callee already takes care of setting the correct error message. */
 
 	return git_futils_mv_atomic(from, to);	/* The callee already takes care of setting the correct error message. */
@@ -289,7 +288,7 @@ int git_futils_direach(
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, int mode)
+int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode)
 {
 	int error, root_path_offset;
 	char *pp, *sp;
diff --git a/src/fileops.h b/src/fileops.h
index 5b69199d2..56c4770cb 100644
--- a/src/fileops.h
+++ b/src/fileops.h
@@ -48,18 +48,18 @@ extern int git_futils_exists(const char *path);
  * Create and open a file, while also
  * creating all the folders in its path
  */
-extern int git_futils_creat_withpath(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int git_futils_creat_withpath(const char *path, const mode_t dirmode, const mode_t mode);
 
 /**
  * Create an open a process-locked file
  */
-extern int git_futils_creat_locked(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int git_futils_creat_locked(const char *path, const mode_t mode);
 
 /**
  * Create an open a process-locked file, while
  * also creating all the folders in its path
  */
-extern int git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int git_futils_creat_locked_withpath(const char *path, const mode_t dirmode, const mode_t mode);
 
 /**
  * Check if the given path points to a directory
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ extern int git_futils_isfile(const char *path);
 /**
  * Create a path recursively
  */
-extern int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int git_futils_mkdir_r(const char *path, const mode_t mode);
 
 /**
  * Create all the folders required to contain
  * the full path of a file
  */
-extern int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *path);
+extern int git_futils_mkpath2file(const char *path, const mode_t mode);
 
 extern int git_futils_rmdir_r(const char *path, int force);
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ extern int git_futils_mv_atomic(const char *from, const char *to);
  * Move a file on the filesystem, create the
  * destination path if it doesn't exist
  */
-extern int git_futils_mv_withpath(const char *from, const char *to);
+extern int git_futils_mv_withpath(const char *from, const char *to, const mode_t dirmode);
 
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/index.c b/src/index.c
index 9ace9515f..1a9745a2c 100644
--- a/src/index.c
+++ b/src/index.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ int git_index_write(git_index *index)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write index");
 	}
 
-	if ((error = git_filebuf_commit(&file)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if ((error = git_filebuf_commit(&file, GIT_INDEX_FILE_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write index");
 
 	if (p_stat(index->index_file_path, &indexst) == 0) {
diff --git a/src/index.h b/src/index.h
index e912770b7..a1cd3403e 100644
--- a/src/index.h
+++ b/src/index.h
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 #include "git2/odb.h"
 #include "git2/index.h"
 
+#define GIT_INDEX_FILE "index"
+#define GIT_INDEX_FILE_MODE 0666
+
 struct git_index {
 	git_repository *repository;
 	char *index_file_path;
diff --git a/src/indexer.c b/src/indexer.c
index a09353ab7..a69ab850c 100644
--- a/src/indexer.c
+++ b/src/indexer.c
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ int git_indexer_write(git_indexer *idx)
 	/* Figure out what the final name should be */
 	index_path(filename, idx);
 	/* Commit file */
-	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&idx->file, filename);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&idx->file, filename, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
 
 cleanup:
 	git_mwindow_free_all(&idx->pack->mwf);
diff --git a/src/odb.h b/src/odb.h
index 4e850916b..833739e99 100644
--- a/src/odb.h
+++ b/src/odb.h
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@
 #include "vector.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 
+#define GIT_OBJECTS_DIR "objects/"
+#define GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE 0777
+#define GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE 0444
+
 /* DO NOT EXPORT */
 typedef struct {
 	void *data;			/**< Raw, decompressed object data. */
diff --git a/src/odb_loose.c b/src/odb_loose.c
index 538fbc909..8c0331834 100644
--- a/src/odb_loose.c
+++ b/src/odb_loose.c
@@ -666,11 +666,11 @@ static int loose_backend__stream_fwrite(git_oid *oid, git_odb_stream *_stream)
 	if (object_file_name(final_path, sizeof(final_path), backend->objects_dir, oid))
 		return GIT_ENOMEM;
 
-	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write loose backend");
 
 	stream->finished = 1;
-	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&stream->fbuf, final_path);
+	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&stream->fbuf, final_path, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
 }
 
 static int loose_backend__stream_write(git_odb_stream *_stream, const char *data, size_t len)
@@ -787,10 +787,10 @@ static int loose_backend__write(git_oid *oid, git_odb_backend *_backend, const v
 	if ((error = object_file_name(final_path, sizeof(final_path), backend->objects_dir, oid)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+	if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(final_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&fbuf, final_path);
+	return git_filebuf_commit_at(&fbuf, final_path, GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
 
 cleanup:
 	git_filebuf_cleanup(&fbuf);
diff --git a/src/pack.h b/src/pack.h
index 0fddd9dc8..aecf580e9 100644
--- a/src/pack.h
+++ b/src/pack.h
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 #include "mwindow.h"
 #include "odb.h"
 
+#define GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE 0444
+
 #define PACK_SIGNATURE 0x5041434b	/* "PACK" */
 #define PACK_VERSION 2
 #define pack_version_ok(v) ((v) == htonl(2) || (v) == htonl(3))
diff --git a/src/posix.c b/src/posix.c
index 1b85b053d..7cd0749b6 100644
--- a/src/posix.c
+++ b/src/posix.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ int p_open(const char *path, int flags)
 	return open(path, flags | O_BINARY);
 }
 
-int p_creat(const char *path, int mode)
+int p_creat(const char *path, mode_t mode)
 {
 	return open(path, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC | O_BINARY, mode);
 }
diff --git a/src/posix.h b/src/posix.h
index 59bec2794..55cd35a38 100644
--- a/src/posix.h
+++ b/src/posix.h
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ extern int p_write(git_file fd, const void *buf, size_t cnt);
 #define p_fstat(f,b) fstat(f, b)
 #define p_lseek(f,n,w) lseek(f, n, w)
 #define p_close(fd) close(fd)
+#define p_umask(m) umask(m)
 
 extern int p_open(const char *path, int flags);
-extern int p_creat(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int p_creat(const char *path, mode_t mode);
 extern int p_getcwd(char *buffer_out, size_t size);
 
 #ifndef GIT_WIN32
diff --git a/src/reflog.c b/src/reflog.c
index a7e1f9259..5fc357a0f 100644
--- a/src/reflog.c
+++ b/src/reflog.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static int reflog_write(const char *log_path, const char *oid_old,
 	}
 
 	git_filebuf_write(&fbuf, log.ptr, log.size);
-	error = git_filebuf_commit(&fbuf);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit(&fbuf, GIT_REFLOG_FILE_MODE);
 
 	git_buf_free(&log);
 	return error == GIT_SUCCESS ? GIT_SUCCESS : git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write reflog");
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ int git_reflog_write(git_reference *ref, const git_oid *oid_old,
 	git_path_join_n(log_path, 3, ref->owner->path_repository, GIT_REFLOG_DIR, ref->name);
 
 	if (git_futils_exists(log_path)) {
-		if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(log_path)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
+		if ((error = git_futils_mkpath2file(log_path, GIT_REFLOG_DIR_MODE)) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 			return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to write reflog. Cannot create reflog directory");
 	} else if (git_futils_isfile(log_path)) {
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to write reflog. `%s` is directory", log_path);
diff --git a/src/reflog.h b/src/reflog.h
index 093874e51..44b063700 100644
--- a/src/reflog.h
+++ b/src/reflog.h
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 #include "vector.h"
 
 #define GIT_REFLOG_DIR "logs/"
+#define GIT_REFLOG_DIR_MODE 0777
+#define GIT_REFLOG_FILE_MODE 0666
 
 #define GIT_REFLOG_SIZE_MIN (2*GIT_OID_HEXSZ+2+17)
 
diff --git a/src/refs.c b/src/refs.c
index f21ca69de..679d7bbcc 100644
--- a/src/refs.c
+++ b/src/refs.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "hash.h"
 #include "repository.h"
 #include "fileops.h"
+#include "pack.h"
 
 #include <git2/tag.h>
 #include <git2/object.h>
@@ -357,7 +358,7 @@ static int loose_write(git_reference *ref)
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
-	error = git_filebuf_commit(&file);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit(&file, GIT_REFS_FILE_MODE);
 
 	if (p_stat(ref_path, &st) == GIT_SUCCESS)
 		ref->mtime = st.st_mtime;
@@ -870,7 +871,7 @@ cleanup:
 	/* if we've written all the references properly, we can commit
 	 * the packfile to make the changes effective */
 	if (error == GIT_SUCCESS) {
-		error = git_filebuf_commit(&pack_file);
+		error = git_filebuf_commit(&pack_file, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
 
 		/* when and only when the packfile has been properly written,
 		 * we can go ahead and remove the loose refs */
diff --git a/src/refs.h b/src/refs.h
index c4b0b0e39..33c1e6983 100644
--- a/src/refs.h
+++ b/src/refs.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #define GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR GIT_REFS_DIR "heads/"
 #define GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR GIT_REFS_DIR "tags/"
 #define GIT_REFS_REMOTES_DIR GIT_REFS_DIR "remotes/"
+#define GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE 0777
+#define GIT_REFS_FILE_MODE 0666
 
 #define GIT_RENAMED_REF_FILE GIT_REFS_DIR "RENAMED-REF"
 
diff --git a/src/repository.c b/src/repository.c
index 33a3f270b..849e1a9cf 100644
--- a/src/repository.c
+++ b/src/repository.c
@@ -609,12 +609,11 @@ static int repo_init_createhead(git_repository *repo)
 
 static int repo_init_structure(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 {
-	const int mode = 0755; /* or 0777 ? */
 	int error;
 
 	char temp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 
-	if (git_futils_mkdir_r(git_dir, mode))
+	if (git_futils_mkdir_r(git_dir, is_bare ? GIT_BARE_DIR_MODE : GIT_DIR_MODE))
 		return git__throw(GIT_ERROR, "Failed to initialize repository structure. Could not mkdir");
 
 	/* Hides the ".git" directory */
@@ -628,25 +627,25 @@ static int repo_init_structure(const char *git_dir, int is_bare)
 
 	/* Creates the '/objects/info/' directory */
 	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_OBJECTS_INFO_DIR);
-	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, mode);
+	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize repository structure");
 
 	/* Creates the '/objects/pack/' directory */
 	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_OBJECTS_PACK_DIR);
-	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, mode);
+	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__throw(error, "Unable to create `%s` folder", temp_path);
 
 	/* Creates the '/refs/heads/' directory */
 	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR);
-	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, mode);
+	error = git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__rethrow(error, "Failed to initialize repository structure");
 
 	/* Creates the '/refs/tags/' directory */
 	git_path_join(temp_path, git_dir, GIT_REFS_TAGS_DIR);
-	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, mode);
+	error = p_mkdir(temp_path, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE);
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return git__throw(error, "Unable to create `%s` folder", temp_path);
 
diff --git a/src/repository.h b/src/repository.h
index 99217e5a4..0c17958fd 100644
--- a/src/repository.h
+++ b/src/repository.h
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "refs.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
+#include "odb.h"
 
 #define DOT_GIT ".git"
 #define GIT_DIR DOT_GIT "/"
-#define GIT_OBJECTS_DIR "objects/"
-#define GIT_INDEX_FILE "index"
+#define GIT_DIR_MODE 0755
+#define GIT_BARE_DIR_MODE 0777
 
 struct git_object {
 	git_cached_obj cached;
diff --git a/src/transports/http.c b/src/transports/http.c
index a1a73cb00..66b6f252c 100644
--- a/src/transports/http.c
+++ b/src/transports/http.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "buffer.h"
 #include "pkt.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "pack.h"
 #include "fetch.h"
 #include "filebuf.h"
 #include "repository.h"
@@ -702,7 +703,7 @@ static int http_download_pack(char **out, git_transport *transport, git_reposito
 	}
 
 	/* A bit dodgy, but we need to keep the pack at the temporary path */
-	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&file, file.path_lock);
+	error = git_filebuf_commit_at(&file, file.path_lock, GIT_PACK_FILE_MODE);
 
 cleanup:
 	if (error < GIT_SUCCESS)
diff --git a/src/win32/posix.h b/src/win32/posix.h
index 5dcdb5f85..7b5553061 100644
--- a/src/win32/posix.h
+++ b/src/win32/posix.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ GIT_INLINE(int) p_link(const char *GIT_UNUSED(old), const char *GIT_UNUSED(new))
 	return -1;
 }
 
-GIT_INLINE(int) p_mkdir(const char *path, int GIT_UNUSED(mode))
+GIT_INLINE(int) p_mkdir(const char *path, mode_t GIT_UNUSED(mode))
 {
 	wchar_t* buf = gitwin_to_utf16(path);
 	int ret = _wmkdir(buf);
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ extern int p_mkstemp(char *tmp_path);
 extern int p_setenv(const char* name, const char* value, int overwrite);
 extern int p_stat(const char* path, struct stat* buf);
 extern int p_chdir(const char* path);
-extern int p_chmod(const char* path, int mode);
+extern int p_chmod(const char* path, mode_t mode);
 extern int p_rmdir(const char* path);
-extern int p_access(const char* path, int mode);
+extern int p_access(const char* path, mode_t mode);
 extern int p_fsync(int fd);
 extern int p_open(const char *path, int flags);
-extern int p_creat(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int p_creat(const char *path, mode_t mode);
 extern int p_getcwd(char *buffer_out, size_t size);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/win32/posix_w32.c b/src/win32/posix_w32.c
index ed7450a94..4b1b0074d 100644
--- a/src/win32/posix_w32.c
+++ b/src/win32/posix_w32.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ int p_open(const char *path, int flags)
 	return fd;
 }
 
-int p_creat(const char *path, int mode)
+int p_creat(const char *path, mode_t mode)
 {
 	int fd;
 	wchar_t* buf = gitwin_to_utf16(path);
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ int p_chdir(const char* path)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int p_chmod(const char* path, int mode)
+int p_chmod(const char* path, mode_t mode)
 {
 	wchar_t* buf = gitwin_to_utf16(path);
 	int ret = _wchmod(buf, mode);
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ int p_snprintf(char *buffer, size_t count, const char *format, ...)
 	return r;
 }
 
-extern int p_creat(const char *path, int mode);
+extern int p_creat(const char *path, mode_t mode);
 
 int p_mkstemp(char *tmp_path)
 {
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ int p_setenv(const char* name, const char* value, int overwrite)
 	return (SetEnvironmentVariableA(name, value) == 0 ? GIT_EOSERR : GIT_SUCCESS);
 }
 
-int p_access(const char* path, int mode)
+int p_access(const char* path, mode_t mode)
 {
 	wchar_t *buf = gitwin_to_utf16(path);
 	int ret;
diff --git a/tests-clay/core/dirent.c b/tests-clay/core/dirent.c
index 73f571595..105e8d8f0 100644
--- a/tests-clay/core/dirent.c
+++ b/tests-clay/core/dirent.c
@@ -20,18 +20,18 @@ static void setup(walk_data *d)
 {
 	name_data *n;
 
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(top_dir, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(top_dir, 0777));
 
 	cl_must_pass(p_chdir(top_dir));
 
 	if (strcmp(d->sub, ".") != 0)
-		cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(d->sub, 0755));
+		cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(d->sub, 0777));
 
 	strcpy(path_buffer, d->sub);
 	state_loc = d;
 
 	for (n = d->names; n->name; n++) {
-		git_file fd = p_creat(n->name, 0600);
+		git_file fd = p_creat(n->name, 0666);
 		cl_assert(fd >= 0);
 		p_close(fd);
 		n->count = 0;
diff --git a/tests-clay/core/filebuf.c b/tests-clay/core/filebuf.c
index e00e20497..e1ecb2798 100644
--- a/tests-clay/core/filebuf.c
+++ b/tests-clay/core/filebuf.c
@@ -27,14 +27,14 @@ void test_core_filebuf__1(void)
 	int fd;
 	char test[] = "test";
 
-	fd = p_creat(test, 0644);
+	fd = p_creat(test, 0666);
 	cl_must_pass(fd);
 	cl_must_pass(p_write(fd, "libgit2 rocks\n", 14));
 	cl_must_pass(p_close(fd));
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_open(&file, test, GIT_FILEBUF_APPEND));
 	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_printf(&file, "%s\n", "libgit2 rocks"));
-	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file));
+	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file, 0666));
 
 	cl_must_pass(p_unlink(test));
 }
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void test_core_filebuf__2(void)
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_open(&file, test, 0));
 	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_write(&file, buf, sizeof(buf)));
-	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file));
+	cl_git_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file, 0666));
 
 	cl_must_pass(p_unlink(test));
 }
diff --git a/tests-clay/core/rmdir.c b/tests-clay/core/rmdir.c
index aa21c6a3d..20cc8f5f0 100644
--- a/tests-clay/core/rmdir.c
+++ b/tests-clay/core/rmdir.c
@@ -7,22 +7,22 @@ void test_core_rmdir__initialize(void)
 {
 	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(empty_tmp_dir, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(empty_tmp_dir, 0777));
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one");
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0777));
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_one");
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0777));
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_two");
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0777));
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_two/three");
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0777));
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/two");
-	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0755));
+	cl_must_pass(p_mkdir(path, 0777));
 }
 
 /* make sure empty dir can be deleted recusively */
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void test_core_rmdir__fail_to_delete_non_empty_dir(void)
 
 	git_path_join(file, empty_tmp_dir, "/two/file.txt");
 
-	fd = p_creat(file, 0755);
+	fd = p_creat(file, 0666);
 	cl_assert(fd >= 0);
 
 	cl_must_pass(p_close(fd));
diff --git a/tests-clay/status/single.c b/tests-clay/status/single.c
index ea1c77fa0..4fd6e6ff4 100644
--- a/tests-clay/status/single.c
+++ b/tests-clay/status/single.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ cleanup__remove_file(void *_file)
 static void
 file_create(const char *filename, const char *content)
 {
-	int fd = p_creat(filename, 0644);
+	int fd = p_creat(filename, 0666);
 	cl_assert(fd >= 0);
 	cl_must_pass(p_write(fd, content, strlen(content)));
 	cl_must_pass(p_close(fd));
diff --git a/tests/t00-core.c b/tests/t00-core.c
index f93444d57..94824b438 100644
--- a/tests/t00-core.c
+++ b/tests/t00-core.c
@@ -250,21 +250,21 @@ static int setup(walk_data *d)
 {
 	name_data *n;
 
-	if (p_mkdir(top_dir, 0755) < 0)
+	if (p_mkdir(top_dir, 0777) < 0)
 		return error("can't mkdir(\"%s\")", top_dir);
 
 	if (p_chdir(top_dir) < 0)
 		return error("can't chdir(\"%s\")", top_dir);
 
 	if (strcmp(d->sub, ".") != 0)
-		if (p_mkdir(d->sub, 0755) < 0)
+		if (p_mkdir(d->sub, 0777) < 0)
 			return error("can't mkdir(\"%s\")", d->sub);
 
 	strcpy(path_buffer, d->sub);
 	state_loc = d;
 
 	for (n = d->names; n->name; n++) {
-		git_file fd = p_creat(n->name, 0600);
+		git_file fd = p_creat(n->name, 0666);
 		if (fd < 0)
 			return GIT_ERROR;
 		p_close(fd);
@@ -479,14 +479,14 @@ BEGIN_TEST(filebuf1, "make sure GIT_FILEBUF_APPEND works as expected")
 	int fd;
 	char test[] = "test";
 
-	fd = p_creat(test, 0644);
+	fd = p_creat(test, 0666);
 	must_pass(fd);
 	must_pass(p_write(fd, "libgit2 rocks\n", 14));
 	must_pass(p_close(fd));
 
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_open(&file, test, GIT_FILEBUF_APPEND));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_printf(&file, "%s\n", "libgit2 rocks"));
-	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file));
+	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file, 0666));
 
 	must_pass(p_unlink(test));
 END_TEST
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(filebuf2, "make sure git_filebuf_write writes large buffer correctly"
 	memset(buf, 0xfe, sizeof(buf));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_open(&file, test, 0));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_write(&file, buf, sizeof(buf)));
-	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file));
+	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file, 0666));
 
 	must_pass(p_unlink(test));
 END_TEST
@@ -510,27 +510,27 @@ static int setup_empty_tmp_dir(void)
 {
 	char path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 
-	if (p_mkdir(empty_tmp_dir, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(empty_tmp_dir, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one");
-	if (p_mkdir(path, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(path, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_one");
-	if (p_mkdir(path, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(path, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_two");
-	if (p_mkdir(path, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(path, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/one/two_two/three");
-	if (p_mkdir(path, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(path, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	git_path_join(path, empty_tmp_dir, "/two");
-	if (p_mkdir(path, 0755))
+	if (p_mkdir(path, 0777))
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(rmdir1, "make sure non-empty dir cannot be deleted recusively")
 
 	must_pass(setup_empty_tmp_dir());
 	git_path_join(file, empty_tmp_dir, "/two/file.txt");
-	fd = p_creat(file, 0755);
+	fd = p_creat(file, 0777);
 	must_pass(fd);
 	must_pass(p_close(fd));
 	must_fail(git_futils_rmdir_r(empty_tmp_dir, 0));
diff --git a/tests/t03-objwrite.c b/tests/t03-objwrite.c
index 31f611a5c..7563d0e3a 100644
--- a/tests/t03-objwrite.c
+++ b/tests/t03-objwrite.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static char *odb_dir = "test-objects";
 
 static int make_odb_dir(void)
 {
-	if (p_mkdir(odb_dir, 0755) < 0) {
+	if (p_mkdir(odb_dir, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE) < 0) {
 		int err = errno;
 		fprintf(stderr, "can't make directory \"%s\"", odb_dir);
 		if (err == EEXIST)
diff --git a/tests/t04-commit.c b/tests/t04-commit.c
index 303b8f7cb..681b3fbd1 100644
--- a/tests/t04-commit.c
+++ b/tests/t04-commit.c
@@ -690,6 +690,10 @@ BEGIN_TEST(write0, "write a new commit object from memory to disk")
 
 	must_be_true(strcmp(git_commit_message(commit), COMMIT_MESSAGE) == 0);
 
+#ifndef GIT_WIN32
+	must_be_true((loose_object_mode(REPOSITORY_FOLDER, (git_object *)commit) & 0777) == GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+#endif
+
 	must_pass(remove_loose_object(REPOSITORY_FOLDER, (git_object *)commit));
 
 	git_commit_close(commit);
diff --git a/tests/t06-index.c b/tests/t06-index.c
index 621e742b3..44562d004 100644
--- a/tests/t06-index.c
+++ b/tests/t06-index.c
@@ -176,10 +176,10 @@ BEGIN_TEST(add0, "add a new file to the index")
 	must_pass(git_index_entrycount(index) == 0);
 
 	/* Create a new file in the working directory */
-	must_pass(git_futils_mkpath2file(TEMP_REPO_FOLDER "myrepo/test.txt"));
+	must_pass(git_futils_mkpath2file(TEMP_REPO_FOLDER "myrepo/test.txt", 0777));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_open(&file, TEMP_REPO_FOLDER "myrepo/test.txt", 0));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_write(&file, "hey there\n", 10));
-	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file));
+	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&file, 0666));
 
 	/* Store the expected hash of the file/blob
 	 * This has been generated by executing the following
diff --git a/tests/t08-tag.c b/tests/t08-tag.c
index 216fb9dfc..85ef9225e 100644
--- a/tests/t08-tag.c
+++ b/tests/t08-tag.c
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ BEGIN_TEST(write0, "write a tag to the repository and read it again")
 	must_pass(git_reference_lookup(&ref_tag, repo, "refs/tags/the-tag"));
 	must_be_true(git_oid_cmp(git_reference_oid(ref_tag), &tag_id) == 0);
 	must_pass(git_reference_delete(ref_tag));
+#ifndef GIT_WIN32
+	must_be_true((loose_object_mode(REPOSITORY_FOLDER, (git_object *)tag) & 0777) == GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+#endif
 
 	must_pass(remove_loose_object(REPOSITORY_FOLDER, (git_object *)tag));
 
diff --git a/tests/t09-tree.c b/tests/t09-tree.c
index 3af06ea67..2341a1ca4 100644
--- a/tests/t09-tree.c
+++ b/tests/t09-tree.c
@@ -200,6 +200,10 @@ BEGIN_TEST(write3, "write a hierarchical tree from a memory")
 	// check data is correct
 	must_pass(git_tree_lookup(&tree, repo, &id_hiearar));
 	must_be_true(2 == git_tree_entrycount(tree));
+#ifndef GIT_WIN32
+	must_be_true((loose_object_dir_mode(TEMP_REPO_FOLDER, (git_object *)tree) & 0777) == GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE);
+	must_be_true((loose_object_mode(TEMP_REPO_FOLDER, (git_object *)tree) & 0777) == GIT_OBJECT_FILE_MODE);
+#endif
 	git_tree_close(tree);
 
 	close_temp_repo(repo);
diff --git a/tests/t10-refs.c b/tests/t10-refs.c
index c7bfe4eea..4cb31d5e7 100644
--- a/tests/t10-refs.c
+++ b/tests/t10-refs.c
@@ -431,12 +431,11 @@ END_TEST
 BEGIN_TEST(pack0, "create a packfile for an empty folder")
 	git_repository *repo;
 	char temp_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	const int mode = 0755; /* or 0777 ? */
 
 	must_pass(open_temp_repo(&repo, REPOSITORY_FOLDER));
 
 	git_path_join_n(temp_path, 3, repo->path_repository, GIT_REFS_HEADS_DIR, "empty_dir");
-	must_pass(git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, mode));
+	must_pass(git_futils_mkdir_r(temp_path, GIT_REFS_DIR_MODE));
 
 	must_pass(git_reference_packall(repo));
 
diff --git a/tests/t12-repo.c b/tests/t12-repo.c
index de921f9ca..6197cdd00 100644
--- a/tests/t12-repo.c
+++ b/tests/t12-repo.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ END_TEST
 BEGIN_TEST(init2, "Initialize and open a bare repo with a relative path escaping out of the current working directory")
 	char path_repository[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 	char current_workdir[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	const int mode = 0755; /* or 0777 ? */
+	const mode_t mode = 0777;
 	git_repository* repo;
 
 	must_pass(p_getcwd(current_workdir, sizeof(current_workdir)));
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(open2, "Open a bare repository with a relative path escaping out of t
 	char current_workdir[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 	char path_repository[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 
-	const int mode = 0755; /* or 0777 ? */
+	const mode_t mode = 0777;
 	git_repository* repo;
 
 	/* Setup the repository to open */
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ static int write_file(const char *path, const char *content)
 			return error;
 	}
 
-	file = git_futils_creat_withpath(path, 0644);
+	file = git_futils_creat_withpath(path, 0777, 0666);
 	if (file < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return file;
 
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(discover0, "test discover")
 	char repository_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 	char sub_repository_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
 	char found_path[GIT_PATH_MAX];
-	int mode = 0755;
+	const mode_t mode = 0777;
 
 	git_futils_mkdir_r(DISCOVER_FOLDER, mode);
 	must_pass(append_ceiling_dir(ceiling_dirs, TEMP_REPO_FOLDER));
diff --git a/tests/t15-config.c b/tests/t15-config.c
index c4cb590f5..a97f82067 100644
--- a/tests/t15-config.c
+++ b/tests/t15-config.c
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(config16, "add a variable in a new section")
 	/* As the section wasn't removed, owerwrite the file */
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_open(&buf, CONFIG_BASE "/config10", 0));
 	must_pass(git_filebuf_write(&buf, "[empty]\n", strlen("[empty]\n")));
-	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&buf));
+	must_pass(git_filebuf_commit(&buf, 0666));
 END_TEST
 
 BEGIN_TEST(config17, "prefixes aren't broken")
diff --git a/tests/t18-status.c b/tests/t18-status.c
index bd205a438..d836fb9a9 100644
--- a/tests/t18-status.c
+++ b/tests/t18-status.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ static int file_create(const char *filename, const char *content)
 {
 	int fd;
 
-	fd = p_creat(filename, 0644);
+	fd = p_creat(filename, 0666);
 	if (fd == 0)
 		return GIT_ERROR;
 	if (p_write(fd, content, strlen(content)) != 0)
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ BEGIN_TEST(singlestatus3, "test retrieving status for a new file in an empty rep
 	must_pass(remove_placeholders(TEST_STD_REPO_FOLDER, "dummy-marker.txt"));
 
 	git_path_join(file_path, TEMP_REPO_FOLDER, filename);
-	fd = p_creat(file_path, 0644);
+	fd = p_creat(file_path, 0666);
 	must_pass(fd);
 	must_pass(p_write(fd, "new_file\n", 9));
 	must_pass(p_close(fd));
diff --git a/tests/test_helpers.c b/tests/test_helpers.c
index d1d7c9ebd..47a0b1b11 100644
--- a/tests/test_helpers.c
+++ b/tests/test_helpers.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ int write_object_data(char *file, void *data, size_t len)
 
 int write_object_files(const char *odb_dir, object_data *d)
 {
-	if (p_mkdir(odb_dir, 0755) < 0) {
+	if (p_mkdir(odb_dir, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE) < 0) {
 		int err = errno;
 		fprintf(stderr, "can't make directory \"%s\"", odb_dir);
 		if (err == EEXIST)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ int write_object_files(const char *odb_dir, object_data *d)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if ((p_mkdir(d->dir, 0755) < 0) && (errno != EEXIST)) {
+	if ((p_mkdir(d->dir, GIT_OBJECT_DIR_MODE) < 0) && (errno != EEXIST)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "can't make object directory \"%s\"\n", d->dir);
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ int remove_object_files(const char *odb_dir, object_data *d)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int remove_loose_object(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object)
+void locate_loose_object(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object, char **out, char **out_folder)
 {
 	static const char *objects_folder = "objects/";
 
@@ -104,6 +104,52 @@ int remove_loose_object(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object)
 	ptr += GIT_OID_HEXSZ + 1;
 	*ptr = 0;
 
+	*out = full_path;
+
+	if (out_folder)
+		*out_folder = top_folder;
+}
+
+int loose_object_mode(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object)
+{
+	char *object_path;
+	struct stat st;
+
+	locate_loose_object(repository_folder, object, &object_path, NULL);
+	assert(p_stat(object_path, &st) == 0);
+	free(object_path);
+
+	return st.st_mode;
+}
+
+int loose_object_dir_mode(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object)
+{
+	char *object_path;
+	size_t pos;
+	struct stat st;
+
+	locate_loose_object(repository_folder, object, &object_path, NULL);
+
+	pos = strlen(object_path);
+	while (pos--) {
+		if (object_path[pos] == '/') {
+			object_path[pos] = 0;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	assert(p_stat(object_path, &st) == 0);
+	free(object_path);
+
+	return st.st_mode;
+}
+
+int remove_loose_object(const char *repository_folder, git_object *object)
+{
+	char *full_path, *top_folder;
+
+	locate_loose_object(repository_folder, object, &full_path, &top_folder);
+
 	if (p_unlink(full_path) < 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "can't delete object file \"%s\"\n", full_path);
 		return -1;
@@ -141,7 +187,7 @@ int copy_file(const char *src, const char *dst)
 	if (git_futils_readbuffer(&source_buf, src) < GIT_SUCCESS)
 		return GIT_ENOTFOUND;
 
-	dst_fd = git_futils_creat_withpath(dst, 0644);
+	dst_fd = git_futils_creat_withpath(dst, 0777, 0666);
 	if (dst_fd < 0)
 		goto cleanup;
 
diff --git a/tests/test_helpers.h b/tests/test_helpers.h
index 53361b7b1..16a3a2ced 100644
--- a/tests/test_helpers.h
+++ b/tests/test_helpers.h
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ extern int remove_object_files(const char *odb_dir, object_data *d);
 
 extern int cmp_objects(git_rawobj *o, object_data *d);
 
+extern void locate_loose_object(const char *odb_dir, git_object *object, char **out, char **out_folder);
+
+extern int loose_object_mode(const char *odb_dir, git_object *object);
+extern int loose_object_dir_mode(const char *odb_dir, git_object *object);
+
 extern int remove_loose_object(const char *odb_dir, git_object *object);
 
 extern int cmp_files(const char *a, const char *b);
diff --git a/tests/test_main.c b/tests/test_main.c
index c9f8da3a4..9961ffd6b 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.c
+++ b/tests/test_main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <git2.h>
 
+#include "posix.h"
+
 #include "test_lib.h"
 #include "test_helpers.h"
 
@@ -81,6 +83,8 @@ main(int GIT_UNUSED(argc), char *GIT_UNUSED(argv[]))
 	GIT_UNUSED_ARG(argc);
 	GIT_UNUSED_ARG(argv);
 
+	p_umask(0);
+
 	failures = 0;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < GIT_SUITE_COUNT; ++i)