diff --git a/rpmpopt.in b/rpmpopt.in
index e4270fd8e2..eabda881d1 100644
--- a/rpmpopt.in
+++ b/rpmpopt.in
@@ -43,13 +43,17 @@ rpm	alias --scripts --qf '\
 ' \
 	--POPTdesc=$"list install/erase scriptlets from package(s)"
 
-rpm	alias --setperms -q --qf '[\[ -L %{FILENAMES:shescape} \] || chmod %7{FILEMODES:octal} %{FILENAMES:shescape}\n]' \
+rpm	alias --setperms -q --qf '[\[ -L %{FILENAMES:shescape} \] || \
+        \[ $((%{FILEFLAGS} & 2#1001000)) != 0 \] && \[ ! -e %{FILENAMES:shescape} \] || \
+        chmod %7{FILEMODES:octal} %{FILENAMES:shescape}\n]' \
 		   --pipe "grep -v \(none\) | grep '^. -L ' | sed 's/chmod .../chmod /' | sh" \
 	--POPTdesc=$"set permissions of files in a package"
 
 rpm	alias --setugids -q --qf \
-        '[ch %{FILEUSERNAME:shescape} %{FILEGROUPNAME:shescape} %{FILENAMES:shescape}\n]' \
-        --pipe "(echo 'ch() { chown -h -- \"$1\" \"$3\";chgrp -h -- \"$2\" \"$3\"; }';grep '^ch '|grep -v \(none\))|sh" \
+	'[ch %{FILEUSERNAME:shescape} %{FILEGROUPNAME:shescape} %{FILENAMES:shescape} %{FILEFLAGS}\n]' \
+	--pipe "(echo 'ch() { \[ $(($4 & 2#1001000)) != 0 \] && \[ ! -e \"$3\" \] || \
+		(chown -h -- \"$1\" \"$3\";chgrp -h -- \"$2\" \"$3\";) }'; \
+		grep '^ch '|grep -v \(none\))|sh" \
 	--POPTdesc=$"set user/group ownership of files in a package"
 
 rpm	alias --setcaps -q --qf \