diff --git a/krebs/3modules/buildbot/master.nix b/krebs/3modules/buildbot/master.nix
index 209dbe980..8995753ac 100644
--- a/krebs/3modules/buildbot/master.nix
+++ b/krebs/3modules/buildbot/master.nix
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ let
           #       normally we should write buildbot.tac by our own
           # ${pkgs.buildbot-classic}/bin/buildbot upgrade-master ${workdir}
 
-          chmod 700 -R ${workdir}
+          chmod 700 ${workdir}
           chown buildbotMaster:buildbotMaster -R ${workdir}
         '';
         ExecStart = "${pkgs.buildbot-classic}/bin/buildbot start --nodaemon ${workdir}";
diff --git a/krebs/3modules/buildbot/slave.nix b/krebs/3modules/buildbot/slave.nix
index 544f9c4e0..c15169fba 100644
--- a/krebs/3modules/buildbot/slave.nix
+++ b/krebs/3modules/buildbot/slave.nix
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ let
           echo ${description} > ${workdir}/info/host
 
           chown buildbotSlave:buildbotSlave -R ${workdir}
-          chmod 700 -R ${workdir}
+          chmod 700 ${workdir}
         '';
         ExecStart = "${pkgs.buildbot-classic-slave}/bin/buildslave start ${workdir}";
         ExecStop = "${pkgs.buildbot-classic-slave}/bin/buildslave stop ${workdir}";