diff --git a/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
index 2f8ee49..76d4d58 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@
 
   def test_SignApexPayload_withSignerHelper(self):
     payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
+    signing_helper = os.path.join(self.testdata_dir, 'signing_helper.sh')
+    os.chmod(signing_helper, 0o700)
     payload_signer_args = '--signing_helper_with_files {}'.format(
-        os.path.join(self.testdata_dir, 'signing_helper.sh'))
+        signing_helper)
     apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
         payload_file,
         self.payload_key,