diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FSJava7Test.java b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FSJava7Test.java
index 9fba374dc..e6a244e14 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FSJava7Test.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit.test/tst/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FSJava7Test.java
@@ -46,15 +46,10 @@
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assume.assumeFalse;
-import static org.junit.Assume.assumeNotNull;
 import static org.junit.Assume.assumeTrue;
 
-import java.io.BufferedReader;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.io.IOException;
-import java.io.InputStreamReader;
-import java.nio.charset.Charset;
 import java.nio.file.Files;
 import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFileAttributeView;
 import java.nio.file.attribute.PosixFilePermission;
@@ -123,29 +118,15 @@ public void testSymlinkAttributes() throws IOException, InterruptedException {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testExecutableAttributes() throws Exception {
-		FS fs = FS.DETECTED;
+		FS fs = FS.DETECTED.newInstance();
 		// If this assumption fails the test is halted and ignored.
 		assumeTrue(fs instanceof FS_POSIX);
+		((FS_POSIX) fs).setUmask(0022);
 
 		File f = new File(trash, "bla");
 		assertTrue(f.createNewFile());
 		assertFalse(fs.canExecute(f));
 
-		String umask = readUmask();
-		assumeNotNull(umask);
-
-		char others = umask.charAt(umask.length() - 1);
-
-		boolean badUmask;
-		if (others != '0' && others != '2' && others != '4' && others != '6') {
-			// umask is set in the way that "others" can not "execute" => git
-			// CLI will not set "execute" attribute for "others", so we also
-			// don't care
-			badUmask = true;
-		} else {
-			badUmask = false;
-		}
-
 		Set<PosixFilePermission> permissions = readPermissions(f);
 		assertTrue(!permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE));
 		assertTrue(!permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE));
@@ -158,27 +139,21 @@ public void testExecutableAttributes() throws Exception {
 				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OWNER_EXECUTE));
 		assertTrue("'group' execute permission not set",
 				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE));
-		if (badUmask) {
-			assertFalse("'others' execute permission set",
-					permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE));
-			System.err.println("WARNING: your system's umask: \"" + umask
-					+ "\" doesn't allow FSJava7Test to test if setting posix"
-					+ "  permissions for \"others\" works properly");
-			assumeFalse(badUmask);
-		} else {
-			assertTrue("'others' execute permission not set",
-					permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE));
-		}
-	}
+		assertTrue("'others' execute permission not set",
+				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE));
 
-	private String readUmask() throws Exception {
-		Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(
-				new String[] { "sh", "-c", "umask" }, null, null);
-		final BufferedReader lineRead = new BufferedReader(
-				new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream(), Charset
-						.defaultCharset().name()));
-		p.waitFor();
-		return lineRead.readLine();
+		((FS_POSIX) fs).setUmask(0033);
+		fs.setExecute(f, false);
+		assertFalse(fs.canExecute(f));
+		fs.setExecute(f, true);
+
+		permissions = readPermissions(f);
+		assertTrue("'owner' execute permission not set",
+				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OWNER_EXECUTE));
+		assertFalse("'group' execute permission set",
+				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE));
+		assertFalse("'others' execute permission set",
+				permissions.contains(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE));
 	}
 
 	private Set<PosixFilePermission> readPermissions(File f) throws IOException {
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FS_POSIX.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FS_POSIX.java
index 47760f661..9c92d7c4c 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FS_POSIX.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/util/FS_POSIX.java
@@ -66,140 +66,70 @@
  * @since 3.0
  */
 public class FS_POSIX extends FS {
+	private static final int DEFAULT_UMASK = 0022;
+	private volatile int umask = -1;
 
-	static {
-		String umask = readUmask();
-
-		// umask return value consists of 3 or 4 digits, like "002" or "0002"
-		if (umask != null && umask.length() > 0 && umask.matches("\\d{3,4}")) { //$NON-NLS-1$
-			EXECUTE_FOR_OTHERS = isGranted(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE,
-					umask);
-			EXECUTE_FOR_GROUP = isGranted(PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE,
-					umask);
-		} else {
-			EXECUTE_FOR_OTHERS = null;
-			EXECUTE_FOR_GROUP = null;
-		}
+	/** Default constructor. */
+	protected FS_POSIX() {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * @since 4.0
+	 * Constructor
+	 *
+	 * @param src
+	 *            FS to copy some settings from
 	 */
-	protected static final Boolean EXECUTE_FOR_OTHERS;
-
-	/**
-	 * @since 4.0
-	 */
-	protected static final Boolean EXECUTE_FOR_GROUP;
+	protected FS_POSIX(FS src) {
+		super(src);
+		if (src instanceof FS_POSIX) {
+			umask = ((FS_POSIX) src).umask;
+		}
+	}
 
 	@Override
 	public FS newInstance() {
-		return new FS_POSIX();
+		return new FS_POSIX(this);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Derives requested permission from given octal umask value as defined e.g.
-	 * in <a href="http://linux.die.net/man/2/umask">http://linux.die.net/man/2/
-	 * umask</a>.
-	 * <p>
-	 * The umask expected here must consist of 3 or 4 digits. Last three digits
-	 * are significant here because they represent file permissions granted to
-	 * the "owner", "group" and "others" (in this order).
-	 * <p>
-	 * Each single digit from the umask represents 3 bits of the mask standing
-	 * for "<b>r</b>ead, <b>w</b>rite, e<b>x</b>ecute" permissions (in this
-	 * order).
-	 * <p>
-	 * The possible umask values table:
+	 * Set the umask, overriding any value observed from the shell.
 	 *
-	 * <pre>
-	 * Value : Bits:Abbr.: Permission
-	 *     0 : 000 :rwx  : read, write and execute
-	 *     1 : 001 :rw   : read and write
-	 *     2 : 010 :rx   : read and execute
-	 *     3 : 011 :r    : read only
-	 *     4 : 100 :wx   : write and execute
-	 *     5 : 101 :w    : write only
-	 *     6 : 110 :x    : execute only
-	 *     7 : 111 :     : no permissions
-	 * </pre>
-	 * <p>
-	 * Note, that umask value is used to "mask" the requested permissions on
-	 * file creation by combining the requested permission bit with the
-	 * <b>negated</b> value of the umask bit.
-	 * <p>
-	 * Simply speaking, if a bit is <b>not</b> set in the umask, then the
-	 * appropriate right <b>will</b> be granted <b>if</b> requested. If a bit is
-	 * set in the umask value, then the appropriate permission will be not
-	 * granted.
-	 * <p>
-	 * Example:
-	 * <li>umask 023 ("000 010 011" or rwx rx r) combined with the request to
-	 * create an executable file with full set of permissions for everyone (777)
-	 * results in the file with permissions 754 (rwx rx r).
-	 * <li>umask 002 ("000 000 010" or rwx rwx rx) combined with the request to
-	 * create an executable file with full set of permissions for everyone (777)
-	 * results in the file with permissions 775 (rwx rwx rx).
-	 * <li>umask 002 ("000 000 010" or rwx rwx rx) combined with the request to
-	 * create a file without executable rights for everyone (666) results in the
-	 * file with permissions 664 (rw rw r).
-	 *
-	 * @param p
-	 *            non null permission
 	 * @param umask
-	 *            octal umask value represented by at least three digits. The
-	 *            digits (read from the end to beginning of the umask) represent
-	 *            permissions for "others", "group" and "owner".
-	 *
-	 * @return true if the requested permission is set according to given umask
+	 *            mask to apply when creating files.
 	 * @since 4.0
 	 */
-	protected static Boolean isGranted(PosixFilePermission p, String umask) {
-		char val;
-		switch (p) {
-		case OTHERS_EXECUTE:
-			// Read last digit, because umask is ordered as: User/Group/Others.
-			val = umask.charAt(umask.length() - 1);
-			return isExecuteGranted(val);
-		case GROUP_EXECUTE:
-			val = umask.charAt(umask.length() - 2);
-			return isExecuteGranted(val);
-		default:
-			throw new UnsupportedOperationException(
-					"isGranted() for " + p + " is not implemented!"); //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$
+	public void setUmask(int umask) {
+		this.umask = umask;
+	}
+
+	private int umask() {
+		int u = umask;
+		if (u == -1) {
+			u = readUmask();
+			umask = u;
 		}
+		return u;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * @param c
-	 *            character representing octal permission value from the table
-	 *            in {@link #isGranted(PosixFilePermission, String)}
-	 * @return true if the "execute" permission is granted according to given
-	 *         character
-	 */
-	private static Boolean isExecuteGranted(char c) {
-		if (c == '0' || c == '2' || c == '4' || c == '6')
-			return Boolean.TRUE;
-		return Boolean.FALSE;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @return umask returned from running umask command in a shell
-	 * @since 4.0
-	 */
-	protected static String readUmask() {
-		Process p;
+	/** @return mask returned from running {@code umask} command in shell. */
+	private static int readUmask() {
 		try {
-			p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(
-					new String[] { "sh", "-c", "umask" }, null, null); //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$ //$NON-NLS-3$
+			Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(
+					new String[] { "sh", "-c", "umask" }, //$NON-NLS-1$ //$NON-NLS-2$ //$NON-NLS-3$
+					null, null);
 			try (BufferedReader lineRead = new BufferedReader(
 					new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream(), Charset
 							.defaultCharset().name()))) {
-				p.waitFor();
-				return lineRead.readLine();
+				if (p.waitFor() == 0) {
+					String s = lineRead.readLine();
+					if (s.matches("0?\\d{3}")) { //$NON-NLS-1$
+						return Integer.parseInt(s, 8);
+					}
+				}
+				return DEFAULT_UMASK;
 			}
 		} catch (Exception e) {
-			return null;
+			return DEFAULT_UMASK;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -229,23 +159,6 @@ protected File discoverGitPrefix() {
 		return null;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Default constructor
-	 */
-	protected FS_POSIX() {
-		super();
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Constructor
-	 *
-	 * @param src
-	 *            FS to copy some settings from
-	 */
-	protected FS_POSIX(FS src) {
-		super(src);
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public boolean isCaseSensitive() {
 		return !SystemReader.getInstance().isMacOS();
@@ -265,35 +178,40 @@ public boolean canExecute(File f) {
 	public boolean setExecute(File f, boolean canExecute) {
 		if (!isFile(f))
 			return false;
-		// only if the execute has to be set, and we know the umask
-		if (canExecute && EXECUTE_FOR_OTHERS != null) {
-			try {
-				Path path = f.toPath();
-				Set<PosixFilePermission> pset = Files
-						.getPosixFilePermissions(path);
-				// user is always allowed to set execute
-				pset.add(PosixFilePermission.OWNER_EXECUTE);
+		if (!canExecute)
+			return f.setExecutable(false);
 
-				if (EXECUTE_FOR_GROUP.booleanValue())
-					pset.add(PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE);
+		try {
+			Path path = f.toPath();
+			Set<PosixFilePermission> pset = Files.getPosixFilePermissions(path);
 
-				if (EXECUTE_FOR_OTHERS.booleanValue())
-					pset.add(PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE);
+			// owner (user) is always allowed to execute.
+			pset.add(PosixFilePermission.OWNER_EXECUTE);
 
-				Files.setPosixFilePermissions(path, pset);
-				return true;
-			} catch (IOException e) {
-				// The interface doesn't allow to throw IOException
-				final boolean debug = Boolean.parseBoolean(SystemReader
-						.getInstance().getProperty("jgit.fs.debug")); //$NON-NLS-1$
-				if (debug)
-					System.err.println(e);
-				return false;
-			}
+			int mask = umask();
+			apply(pset, mask, PosixFilePermission.GROUP_EXECUTE, 1 << 3);
+			apply(pset, mask, PosixFilePermission.OTHERS_EXECUTE, 1);
+			Files.setPosixFilePermissions(path, pset);
+			return true;
+		} catch (IOException e) {
+			// The interface doesn't allow to throw IOException
+			final boolean debug = Boolean.parseBoolean(SystemReader
+					.getInstance().getProperty("jgit.fs.debug")); //$NON-NLS-1$
+			if (debug)
+				System.err.println(e);
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	private static void apply(Set<PosixFilePermission> set,
+			int umask, PosixFilePermission perm, int test) {
+		if ((umask & test) == 0) {
+			// If bit is clear in umask, permission is allowed.
+			set.add(perm);
+		} else {
+			// If bit is set in umask, permission is denied.
+			set.remove(perm);
 		}
-		// if umask is not working for some reason: fall back to default (buggy)
-		// implementation which does not consider umask: see bug 424395
-		return f.setExecutable(canExecute);
 	}
 
 	@Override