diff --git a/cmd/cmount/fs.go b/cmd/cmount/fs.go
index f155399ad..b993a222b 100644
--- a/cmd/cmount/fs.go
+++ b/cmd/cmount/fs.go
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func (fsys *FS) Open(path string, flags int) (errc int, fh uint64) {
 	defer log.Trace(path, "flags=0x%X", flags)("errc=%d, fh=0x%X", &errc, &fh)
 
 	// translate the fuse flags to os flags
-	flags = translateOpenFlags(flags) | os.O_CREATE
+	flags = translateOpenFlags(flags)
 	handle, err := fsys.VFS.OpenFile(path, flags, 0777)
 	if errc != 0 {
 		return translateError(err), fhUnset
diff --git a/cmd/mount/file.go b/cmd/mount/file.go
index 7632203fe..25f5625e0 100644
--- a/cmd/mount/file.go
+++ b/cmd/mount/file.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 package mount
 
 import (
-	"os"
 	"time"
 
 	"bazil.org/fuse"
@@ -69,10 +68,7 @@ func (f *File) Open(ctx context.Context, req *fuse.OpenRequest, resp *fuse.OpenR
 
 	// fuse flags are based off syscall flags as are os flags, so
 	// should be compatible
-	//
-	// we seem to be missing O_CREATE here so add it in to allow
-	// file creation
-	handle, err := f.File.Open(int(req.Flags) | os.O_CREATE)
+	handle, err := f.File.Open(int(req.Flags))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, translateError(err)
 	}