diff --git a/src/cmds/ntux_cmd_chmod.c b/src/cmds/ntux_cmd_chmod.c
index a8d25cb..416d756 100644
--- a/src/cmds/ntux_cmd_chmod.c
+++ b/src/cmds/ntux_cmd_chmod.c
@@ -57,16 +57,11 @@ int ntux_cmd_chmod(const struct ntux_driver_ctx * dctx, const char * dunit)
 	void *			hasync  = 0;
 	uint32_t		buf[0x300];
 
-	/* initial version: --strmode only */
+	/* ACE propagation: +p, -p */
 	if (!dctx->cctx->strmode)
-		return ntux_cmd_chmod_ret(
-			0,0,0,
-			NTUX_CUSTOM_ERROR(
-				dctx,
-				NTUX_ERR_FLEE_ERROR));
+		ace_flags = 0;
 
-	/* ACE propagation: +p, -p */
-	if (!strcmp(dctx->cctx->strmode,"+p"))
+	else if (!strcmp(dctx->cctx->strmode,"+p"))
 		ace_flags = NT_ACE_CONTAINER_INHERIT | NT_ACE_OBJECT_INHERIT;
 
 	else if (!strcmp(dctx->cctx->strmode,"-p"))
@@ -145,6 +140,14 @@ int ntux_cmd_chmod(const struct ntux_driver_ctx * dctx, const char * dunit)
 	access_other  = meta.other_ace  ? meta.other_ace->mask  : 0;
 	access_admin  = meta.admin_ace  ? meta.admin_ace->mask  : 0;
 
+	/* initial --strmode support, retaining previous options as needed */
+	if (!dctx->cctx->strmode) {
+		ace_flags |= meta.owner_ace  ? meta.owner_ace->header.ace_flags : 0;
+		ace_flags |= meta.group_ace  ? meta.group_ace->header.ace_flags : 0;
+		ace_flags |= meta.other_ace  ? meta.other_ace->header.ace_flags : 0;
+		ace_flags |= meta.admin_ace  ? meta.admin_ace->header.ace_flags : 0;
+	}
+
 	/* updated dacl */
 	__xfi_acl_init_common_descriptor(
 		&dstsd,