diff --git a/loginutils/getty.c b/loginutils/getty.c
index 2b37136fe..71cadc7ab 100644
--- a/loginutils/getty.c
+++ b/loginutils/getty.c
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ static void update_utmp(char *line)
 	 * entry in the utmp file.
 	 */
 	if (access(_PATH_UTMP, R_OK|W_OK) == -1) {
-		creat(_PATH_UTMP, O_RDWR);
+		creat(_PATH_UTMP, 0664);
 	}
 	utmpname(_PATH_UTMP);
 	setutent();
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ static void update_utmp(char *line)
 
 	{
 		if (access(_PATH_WTMP, R_OK|W_OK) == -1) {
-			creat(_PATH_WTMP, O_RDWR);
+			creat(_PATH_WTMP, 0664);
 		}
 		updwtmp(_PATH_WTMP, &ut);
 	}
diff --git a/loginutils/login.c b/loginutils/login.c
index 93d81d314..f5e950f58 100644
--- a/loginutils/login.c
+++ b/loginutils/login.c
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ static void setutmp(const char *name, const char *line)
 	pututline(&utent);
 	endutent();
 	if (access(_PATH_WTMP, R_OK|W_OK) == -1) {
-		creat(_PATH_WTMP, O_RDWR);
+		creat(_PATH_WTMP, 0664);
 	}
 	updwtmp(_PATH_WTMP, &utent);
 }