diff --git a/includes/install.inc b/includes/install.inc
index 089cdee..2b6f335 100644
--- a/includes/install.inc
+++ b/includes/install.inc
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ function drupal_install_fix_file($file, $mask, $message = TRUE) {
   // chmod() will work if the web server is running as owner of the file.
   // If PHP safe_mode is enabled the currently executing script must also
   // have the same owner.
-  if (@chmod($file, $mod)) {
+  if (!variable_get('drupal_install_fix_file_disable', FALSE) && @chmod($file, $mod)) {
     return TRUE;
   }
   else {