diff --git a/install-python b/install-python
index 3497ca6..5b5852f 100755
--- a/install-python
+++ b/install-python
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import sys
 ap = argparse.ArgumentParser()
 ap.add_argument("source")
 ap.add_argument("destination")
+ap.add_argument("--mode", "-m", type=lambda x: int(x, base=8))
 
 args = ap.parse_args()
 
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ with open(args.source) as inf:
             outf.write(first_line)
         for line in inf:
             outf.write(line)
+    if args.mode is not None:
+        os.chmod(tmp_dest, args.mode)
+    else:
+        shutil.copymode(args.source, tmp_dest)
     os.rename(tmp_dest, args.destination)
-
-shutil.copymode(args.source, args.destination)