diff --git a/package/makedevs/makedevs.c b/package/makedevs/makedevs.c
index 2796cd5e78..a5c9c7d64d 100644
--- a/package/makedevs/makedevs.c
+++ b/package/makedevs/makedevs.c
@@ -446,11 +446,12 @@ int bb_recursive(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb,
 	}
 
 	/* chmod() is optional, also skip if dangling symlink */
-	if (recursive_mode != -1 && tflag == FTW_SL && access(fpath, F_OK)) {
-		if (chmod(fpath, recursive_mode) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("chmod failed for %s", fpath);
-			return -1;
-		}
+	if (recursive_mode == -1 || (tflag == FTW_SL && !access(fpath, F_OK)))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (chmod(fpath, recursive_mode) < 0) {
+		bb_perror_msg("chmod failed for %s", fpath);
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	return 0;