diff --git a/doc/changelog.txt b/doc/changelog.txt
index 9e0b3f8..87a22f8 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.txt
+++ b/doc/changelog.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
   * Added option alias -v for --verbose.
   * Added --verbose option to create command.
   * Added support for Extract, list and test multiple archives.
+  * Fix permissions of extracted files: make them readable by the
+    current user.
 
 0.5 "Vanishing Point" (released 4.3.2010)
 
diff --git a/doc/patool.1 b/doc/patool.1
index 3f1d090..1fae8f9 100644
--- a/doc/patool.1
+++ b/doc/patool.1
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ directories. The patool program overcomes this problem by
 first extracting files to a unique (temporary) directory, and
 then moving its contents back if possible. This also prevents
 local files from being overwritten by mistake.
+.br
+All extracted files are checked that they are readable by the
+current user.
 .TP
 \fB\-v\fP, \fB\-\-verbose\fP
 Be verbose when extracting (if the helper application supports it).
diff --git a/doc/patool.txt b/doc/patool.txt
index b02822f..18d479a 100644
--- a/doc/patool.txt
+++ b/doc/patool.txt
@@ -42,9 +42,11 @@ COMMANDS
        extracting files to a unique (temporary) directory, and then moving its
        contents  back  if  possible. This also prevents local files from being
        overwritten by mistake.
+       All extracted files are checked that they are readable by  the  current
+       user.
 
        -v, --verbose
-              Be verbose when extracting (if the helper  application  supports
+              Be  verbose  when extracting (if the helper application supports
               it).
 
        --help Show help for this command.
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ COMMANDS
        --help Show help for this command.
 
    create
-       Create  an  archive from given files. At least on of the given files to
+       Create an archive from given files. At least on of the given  files  to
        add to the archive has to exist.
 
        -v, --verbose
diff --git a/doc/todo.txt b/doc/todo.txt
index c3b7680..67b4199 100644
--- a/doc/todo.txt
+++ b/doc/todo.txt
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-- fix permissions (unreadable files) in extracted files (honor umask)
+- Support ace (unace) archives.
+- Support ar archives.
+- Support lha archives.
diff --git a/patoolib/__init__.py b/patoolib/__init__.py
index 33f3b6f..fed1646 100644
--- a/patoolib/__init__.py
+++ b/patoolib/__init__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 import os
 import shutil
+import stat
 from patoolib import util
 
 # Supported archive commands
@@ -309,8 +310,30 @@ def run_archive_cmdlist (archive_cmdlist):
     util.run(cmdlist, **runkwargs)
 
 
+def make_file_readable (filename):
+    """Make file user readable if it is not a link."""
+    if not os.path.islink(filename):
+        util.set_mode(filename, stat.S_IRUSR)
+
+
+def make_dir_readable (filename):
+    """Make directory user readable and executable."""
+    util.set_mode(filename, stat.S_IRUSR|stat.S_IXUSR)
+
+
+def make_user_readable (directory):
+    """Make all files in given directory user readable. Also recurse into
+    subdirectories."""
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(directory, onerror=util.log_error):
+        for filename in files:
+            make_file_readable(os.path.join(root, filename))
+        for dirname in dirs:
+            make_dir_readable(os.path.join(root, dirname))
+
+
 def cleanup_outdir (archive, outdir):
     """Cleanup outdir after extraction and return target file name."""
+    make_user_readable(outdir)
     if outdir:
         # move single directory or file in outdir
         (res, msg) = move_outdir_orphan(outdir)
diff --git a/patoolib/util.py b/patoolib/util.py
index 597908d..9d7405c 100644
--- a/patoolib/util.py
+++ b/patoolib/util.py
@@ -215,6 +215,20 @@ def check_filename (filename):
         raise PatoolError("File `%s' not readable." % filename)
 
 
+def set_mode (filename, flags):
+    """Set mode flags for given filename if not already set."""
+    try:
+        mode = os.lstat(filename).st_mode
+    except OSError:
+        # ignore
+        return
+    if not (mode & flags):
+        try:
+            os.chmod(filename, flags | mode)
+        except OSError, msg:
+            log_error("could not set mode flags for `%s': %s" % (filename, msg))
+
+
 def tmpdir (dir=None):
     """Return a temporary directory for extraction."""
     return tempfile.mkdtemp(suffix='', prefix='Unpack_', dir=dir)