diff --git a/src/configure b/src/configure
index 466b4592..ff904a35 100755
--- a/src/configure
+++ b/src/configure
@@ -2296,7 +2296,8 @@ it and/or set the QTDIR environment variable?" >&2;}
 fi
 
 cd $QTGUI
-# We just want a .pro file: no problem with unsubstituted variables
+# We just want a .pro file: no problem with unsubstituted variables for now
+test -f recoll.pro && chmod +w recoll.pro
 cp recoll.pro.in recoll.pro
 ${QMAKE} recoll.pro
 if test $? != 0 ; then
diff --git a/src/configure.ac b/src/configure.ac
index 58e641d2..95ef77ac 100644
--- a/src/configure.ac
+++ b/src/configure.ac
@@ -116,7 +116,9 @@ it and/or set the QTDIR environment variable?])
 fi
 
 cd $QTGUI
-# We just want a .pro file: no problem with unsubstituted variables
+# We just want a .pro file: no problem with unsubstituted variables at 
+# this point.
+test -f recoll.pro && chmod +w recoll.pro
 cp recoll.pro.in recoll.pro
 ${QMAKE} recoll.pro
 if test $? != 0 ; then