diff --git a/git-merge-one-file.sh b/git-merge-one-file.sh
index 07dfeb8df4..cdc02af517 100755
--- a/git-merge-one-file.sh
+++ b/git-merge-one-file.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ case "${1:-.}${2:-.}${3:-.}" in
 # Deleted in both or deleted in one and unchanged in the other
 #
 "$1.." | "$1.$1" | "$1$1.")
+	if { test -z "$6" && test "$5" != "$7"; } ||
+	   { test -z "$7" && test "$5" != "$6"; }
+	then
+		echo "ERROR: File $4 deleted on one branch but had its" >&2
+		echo "ERROR: permissions changed on the other." >&2
+		exit 1
+	fi
+
 	if test -n "$2"
 	then
 		echo "Removing $4"
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index fdb7d0f10b..a1ee9b7e24 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -1535,13 +1535,17 @@ static int read_sha1_strbuf(const unsigned char *sha1, struct strbuf *dst)
 }
 
 static int blob_unchanged(const unsigned char *o_sha,
+			  unsigned o_mode,
 			  const unsigned char *a_sha,
+			  unsigned a_mode,
 			  int renormalize, const char *path)
 {
 	struct strbuf o = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf a = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int ret = 0; /* assume changed for safety */
 
+	if (a_mode != o_mode)
+		return 0;
 	if (sha_eq(o_sha, a_sha))
 		return 1;
 	if (!renormalize)
@@ -1727,8 +1731,8 @@ static int process_entry(struct merge_options *o,
 	} else if (o_sha && (!a_sha || !b_sha)) {
 		/* Case A: Deleted in one */
 		if ((!a_sha && !b_sha) ||
-		    (!b_sha && blob_unchanged(o_sha, a_sha, normalize, path)) ||
-		    (!a_sha && blob_unchanged(o_sha, b_sha, normalize, path))) {
+		    (!b_sha && blob_unchanged(o_sha, o_mode, a_sha, a_mode, normalize, path)) ||
+		    (!a_sha && blob_unchanged(o_sha, o_mode, b_sha, b_mode, normalize, path))) {
 			/* Deleted in both or deleted in one and
 			 * unchanged in the other */
 			if (a_sha)
diff --git a/t/t6031-merge-filemode.sh b/t/t6031-merge-filemode.sh
index c6896e674c..7d06461f13 100755
--- a/t/t6031-merge-filemode.sh
+++ b/t/t6031-merge-filemode.sh
@@ -74,4 +74,27 @@ do_both_modes () {
 do_both_modes recursive
 do_both_modes resolve
 
+test_expect_success 'set up delete/modechange scenario' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	git checkout -b deletion master &&
+	git rm file1 &&
+	git commit -m deletion
+'
+
+do_delete_modechange () {
+	strategy=$1
+	us=$2
+	them=$3
+	test_expect_success "detect delete/modechange conflict ($strategy, $us)" '
+		git reset --hard &&
+		git checkout $us &&
+		test_must_fail git merge -s $strategy $them
+	'
+}
+
+do_delete_modechange recursive b1 deletion
+do_delete_modechange recursive deletion b1
+do_delete_modechange resolve b1 deletion
+do_delete_modechange resolve deletion b1
+
 test_done