diff --git a/src/syncterm/syncterm.c b/src/syncterm/syncterm.c
index 95537a2eba9dd8a615b4a70fc9371b2fa7bc346f..a57d10cd428a14b52dbb14ad6f30899f209fe74e 100644
--- a/src/syncterm/syncterm.c
+++ b/src/syncterm/syncterm.c
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
 #include <gen_defs.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <ciolib.h>
@@ -131,6 +133,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	FULLPATH(path,drive,sizeof(path));
 	atexit(uifcbail);
 
+#ifdef __unix__
+	umask(077);
+#endif
+
 	/* User BBS list path */
 	home=getenv("HOME");
 	if(home==NULL)