diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index af20daf..af27493 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ def cmd_list_profiles(o):
     LOG.log('')
 
 
-def cmd_list_files(o):
+def cmd_files(o):
     """list all dotfiles for a specific profile"""
     if o.profile not in [p.key for p in o.profiles]:
         LOG.warn('unknown profile \"{}\"'.format(o.profile))
@@ -525,17 +525,21 @@ def cmd_list_files(o):
             if not Templategen.is_template(src):
                 continue
         if o.files_grepable:
-            fmt = '{},dst:{},src:{},link:{},chmod:{}'
+            fmt = '{},dst:{},src:{},link:{}'
             fmt = fmt.format(dotfile.key, dotfile.dst,
-                             dotfile.src, dotfile.link.name.lower(),
-                             dotfile.chmod)
+                             dotfile.src, dotfile.link.name.lower())
+            if dotfile.chmod:
+                fmt += ',chmod:{:o}'
+            else:
+                fmt += ',chmod:None'
             LOG.raw(fmt)
         else:
             LOG.log('{}'.format(dotfile.key), bold=True)
             LOG.sub('dst: {}'.format(dotfile.dst))
             LOG.sub('src: {}'.format(dotfile.src))
             LOG.sub('link: {}'.format(dotfile.link.name.lower()))
-            LOG.sub('chmod: {}'.format(dotfile.chmod))
+            if dotfile.chmod:
+                LOG.sub('chmod: {:o}'.format(dotfile.chmod))
     LOG.log('')
 
 
@@ -773,7 +777,7 @@ def main():
             command = 'files'
             if o.debug:
                 LOG.dbg('running cmd: {}'.format(command))
-            cmd_list_files(o)
+            cmd_files(o)
 
         elif o.cmd_install:
             # install the dotfiles stored in dotdrop
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 248c7bf..1e5428f 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -145,23 +145,35 @@ class Installer:
                                              actionexec=actionexec,
                                              is_template=is_template)
 
+        if self.debug:
+            self.log.dbg('before chmod: {} err:{}'.format(r, err))
+
+        if self.dry:
+            return self._log_install(r, err)
+
         # handle chmod
         # - on success (r, not err)
         # - no change (not r, not err)
         # but not when
         # - error (not r, err)
         # - aborted (not r, err)
-        if (r or (not r and not err)) \
-                and chmod and not self.dry:
+        if (r or (not r and not err)):
+            if not chmod:
+                chmod = utils.get_file_perm(src)
             dstperms = utils.get_file_perm(dst)
             if dstperms != chmod:
                 # apply mode
-                self.log.sub('chmod {} to {:o}'.format(dst, chmod))
-                if utils.chmod(dst, chmod, debug=self.debug):
-                    r = True
-                else:
+                msg = 'chmod {} to {:o}'.format(dst, chmod)
+                if self.safe and not self.log.ask(msg):
                     r = False
-                    err = 'chmod failed'
+                    err = 'aborted'
+                else:
+                    self.log.sub('chmod {} to {:o}'.format(dst, chmod))
+                    if utils.chmod(dst, chmod, debug=self.debug):
+                        r = True
+                    else:
+                        r = False
+                        err = 'chmod failed'
 
         return self._log_install(r, err)
 
@@ -536,9 +548,7 @@ class Installer:
             if not src_mode:
                 src_mode = utils.get_file_perm(src)
             if self.diff:
-                if not self._is_different(src, dst,
-                                          content=content,
-                                          src_mode=src_mode):
+                if not self._is_different(src, dst, content=content):
                     if self.debug:
                         self.log.dbg('{} is the same'.format(dst))
                     return False, None
@@ -599,29 +609,11 @@ class Installer:
         tmp['_dotfile_sub_abs_dst'] = dst
         return tmp
 
-    def _is_different(self, src, dst, src_mode=None, content=None):
+    def _is_different(self, src, dst, content=None):
         """
         returns True if file is different and
         needs to be installed
         """
-        # check file size
-        src_size = os.stat(src).st_size
-        dst_size = os.stat(dst).st_size
-        if src_size != dst_size:
-            if self.debug:
-                self.log.dbg('size differ')
-            return True
-
-        # check file mode
-        if not src_mode:
-            src_mode = utils.get_file_perm(src)
-        dst_mode = utils.get_file_perm(dst)
-        if src_mode != dst_mode:
-            if self.debug:
-                m = 'mode differ ({:o} vs {:o})'
-                self.log.dbg(m.format(src_mode, dst_mode))
-            return True
-
         # check file content
         if content:
             tmp = utils.write_to_tmpfile(content)
diff --git a/tests-ng/chmod-install.sh b/tests-ng/chmod-install.sh
index 1a2298f..e59562b 100755
--- a/tests-ng/chmod-install.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/chmod-install.sh
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ chmod 600 ${tmps}/dotfiles/nomode
 echo "nomode" > ${tmpd}/nomode
 chmod 600 ${tmpd}/nomode
 cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -f -p p2 -V f_nomode
+echo "same mode"
 has_rights "${tmpd}/nomode" "600"
 
 ## no user confirmation with force
@@ -253,6 +254,7 @@ chmod 600 ${tmps}/dotfiles/nomode
 echo "nomode" > ${tmpd}/nomode
 chmod 700 ${tmpd}/nomode
 cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -f -p p2 -V f_nomode
+echo "different mode (1)"
 has_rights "${tmpd}/nomode" "600"
 
 ## user confirmation expected
@@ -263,6 +265,7 @@ chmod 600 ${tmps}/dotfiles/nomode
 echo "nomode" > ${tmpd}/nomode
 chmod 700 ${tmpd}/nomode
 cd ${ddpath} | printf 'y\ny\n' | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p2 -V f_nomode
+echo "different mode (2)"
 has_rights "${tmpd}/nomode" "600"
 
 ## CLEANING
diff --git a/tests/test_import.py b/tests/test_import.py
index 08df58c..186382a 100644
--- a/tests/test_import.py
+++ b/tests/test_import.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import os
 
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_importer
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_list_profiles
-from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_list_files
+from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_files
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_update
 from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class TestImport(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(s4))
 
         cmd_list_profiles(o)
-        cmd_list_files(o)
+        cmd_files(o)
 
         # fake test update
         editcontent = 'edited'
diff --git a/tests/test_listings.py b/tests/test_listings.py
index 39905ec..72a82e6 100644
--- a/tests/test_listings.py
+++ b/tests/test_listings.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import unittest
 import os
 
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_list_profiles
-from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_list_files
+from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_files
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_detail
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_importer
 
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ class TestListings(unittest.TestCase):
 
         # list files
         o.files_templateonly = False
-        cmd_list_files(o)
+        cmd_files(o)
         o.files_templateonly = True
-        cmd_list_files(o)
+        cmd_files(o)
 
         # details
         o.detail_keys = None