diff --git a/pilerbackup.sh b/pilerbackup.sh
index feb76e7..d3d4e67 100644
--- a/pilerbackup.sh
+++ b/pilerbackup.sh
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ if ! exportDir=$( mktemp -d 2>>"$logFile" ); then
     exitError 111 "Could not create temporary directory for exported EML files"
 fi
 # grant pilerUser permission to write to temporary directory
-if ! chown root:${pilerUser} "$exportDir" && chmod 770 "$exportDir"; then
+if ! (chown root:${pilerUser} "$exportDir" && chmod 770 "$exportDir"); then
     exitError 112 "Could not set permissions on temporary directory"
 fi
 if ! cd "$exportDir"; then