diff --git a/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp b/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
index 4ba4e85edf..0fe2eeadd5 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
+++ b/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
@@ -2055,9 +2055,10 @@ _vm_map_file(team_id team, const char* name, void** _address,
 
 	uint32 protectionMax = 0;
 	if (mapping != REGION_PRIVATE_MAP) {
-		protectionMax = protection | B_READ_AREA;
 		if ((openMode & O_ACCMODE) == O_RDWR)
-			protectionMax |= B_WRITE_AREA;
+			protectionMax = protection | B_USER_PROTECTION;
+		else
+			protectionMax = protection | (B_USER_PROTECTION & ~B_WRITE_AREA);
 	}
 
 	// get the vnode for the object, this also grabs a ref to it