diff --git a/builtin-diff.c b/builtin-diff.c
index 4ba4d18f871122e0585ead1d09deb728ff518174..7f367b6b9d545ea760224fdacb68056261ce1617 100644
--- a/builtin-diff.c
+++ b/builtin-diff.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static void stuff_change(struct diff_options *opt,
 	struct diff_filespec *one, *two;
 
 	if (!is_null_sha1(old_sha1) && !is_null_sha1(new_sha1) &&
-	    !hashcmp(old_sha1, new_sha1))
+	    !hashcmp(old_sha1, new_sha1) && (old_mode == new_mode))
 		return;
 
 	if (opt->reverse_diff) {