diff --git a/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/builder.sh b/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/builder.sh
index 436f5f95afc7..bd7894d49311 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/builder.sh
+++ b/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/builder.sh
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ sed -e "s^@bash\@^$bash^g" \
     -e "s^@initscripts\@^$initscripts^g" \
     -e "s^@coreutils\@^$coreutils^g" \
     < $script > $out/control
+
+chmod +x $out/control
diff --git a/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/sshd b/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/sshd
index 66657b74e2aa..c3e26783444e 100755
--- a/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/sshd
+++ b/pkgs/servers/ssh-script/sshd
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ start()
 	do_dsa_keygen
 
 	echo -n $"Starting $prog:"
-	initlog -c "$SSHD $OPTIONS" && success || failure
+	@initscripts@/sbin/initlog -c "$SSHD $OPTIONS" && success || failure
 	RETVAL=$?
 	[ "$RETVAL" = 0 ] && touch /var/lock/subsys/sshd
 	echo