diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index bf007008b1..bf1224dfd6 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	nm_main_utils_ensure_not_running_pidfile (global_opt.pidfile);
 
 	/* Ensure state directory exists */
-	if (g_mkdir_with_parents (NMSTATEDIR, 0755) != 0) {
+	if (g_mkdir_with_parents (NMSTATEDIR, 0700) != 0) {
 		fprintf (stderr, "Cannot create '%s': %s", NMSTATEDIR, strerror (errno));
 		exit (1);
 	}