diff --git a/rules/varscan/Snakefile b/rules/varscan/Snakefile
index 23764d45..37f93c28 100644
--- a/rules/varscan/Snakefile
+++ b/rules/varscan/Snakefile
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ rule merge_vcfs:
         " {input.indel}"
         ' > {output}'
         " 2> {log}"
+        " && chmod -v g+w {output} 2>> {log}"
 
         # #merge the vcfs
         # echo merging vcfs for $OUTPUTBASENAME