diff --git a/winsup/utils/chattr.c b/winsup/utils/chattr.c
index c7dc649c2..eb60e5d3e 100644
--- a/winsup/utils/chattr.c
+++ b/winsup/utils/chattr.c
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ next:
 	{
 	  if (chattr (argv[optind]))
 	    ret = 1;
-	  if (S_ISDIR (st.st_mode) && chattr_dir (argv[optind]))
+	  if (S_ISDIR (st.st_mode) && Ropt && chattr_dir (argv[optind]))
 	    ret = 1;
 	}
     }