diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 21fceb3..af706f0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ start:
   allow_failure: false
   image: archlinux:latest
   script:
+    # invent.kde.org seems to mangle permissions, restore them so we have accurate permissions for configs and whatnot
+    # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2517339/how-to-restore-the-permissions-of-files-and-directories-within-git-if-they-have
+    - git diff -p -R --no-ext-diff --no-color --diff-filter=M | grep -E "^(diff|(old|new) mode)" --color=never | git apply
     - ls -lahR
     - pacman --sync --refresh --noconfirm curl which
     - curl -s https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/incubation-engineering/mobile-devops/download-secure-files/-/raw/main/installer | bash