diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 5043197c4..487b7ff7e 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -1272,6 +1272,7 @@ esdcompat: daemon/esdcompat.in Makefile
 	sed -e 's,@PACKAGE_VERSION\@,$(PACKAGE_VERSION),g' \
 		-e 's,@PACKAGE_NAME\@,$(PACKAGE_NAME),g' \
 		-e 's,@PA_BINARY\@,$(PA_BINARY),g' < $< > $@
+	chmod +x esdcompat
 
 client.conf: pulse/client.conf.in Makefile
 	sed -e 's,@PA_BINARY\@,$(PA_BINARY),g' < $< > $@