diff --git a/cmd/zed/zed.d/Makefile.am b/cmd/zed/zed.d/Makefile.am
index 3c0f5c3dd1b2..3efcfb3629cf 100644
--- a/cmd/zed/zed.d/Makefile.am
+++ b/cmd/zed/zed.d/Makefile.am
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ install-data-hook:
 	       -L "$(DESTDIR)$(zedconfdir)/$${f}" || \
 	    ln -s "$(zedexecdir)/$${f}" "$(DESTDIR)$(zedconfdir)"; \
 	done
-	chmod 0600 "$(DESTDIR)$(zedconfdir)/zed.rc"
 
 # False positive: 1>&"${ZED_FLOCK_FD}" looks suspiciously similar to a >&filename bash extension
 CHECKBASHISMS_IGNORE = -e 'should be >word 2>&1' -e '&"$${ZED_FLOCK_FD}"'
diff --git a/cmd/zed/zed.d/zed.rc b/cmd/zed/zed.d/zed.rc
index a8fdc86c3431..3c58a2c281f5 100644
--- a/cmd/zed/zed.d/zed.rc
+++ b/cmd/zed/zed.d/zed.rc
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ##
-# zed.rc
-#
-# This file should be owned by root and permissioned 0600.
+# zed.rc – ZEDLET configuration.
 ##
 # shellcheck disable=SC2034