diff --git a/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py b/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
index d34e9983b..fa331f66b 100644
--- a/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
+++ b/mock/py/mockbuild/buildroot.py
@@ -348,7 +348,8 @@ def _init(self, prebuild):
 
         # Change owner of homdir tree if the root of it not owned
         # by the current user
-        self.chown_home_dir()
+        if prebuild:
+            self.chown_home_dir()
 
         # mark the buildroot as initialized
         file_util.touch(self.make_chroot_path('.initialized'))