diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 8367d87..5fdc1fa 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
             shell: /bin/bash
             full_name: 'Jonh Doe'
             home: '/home/jdoe'
+            home_dir_mode: 755
             email: 'jonh@doe.com'
           jsmith:
             name: 'jsmith'
diff --git a/linux/system/user.sls b/linux/system/user.sls
index efda1ba..7ffdae6 100644
--- a/linux/system/user.sls
+++ b/linux/system/user.sls
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
   file.directory:
   - name: {{ user.home }}
   - user: {{ name }}
-  - mode: 700
+  - mode: {{ user.get('home_dir_mode', 700) }}
   - makedirs: true
   - require:
     - user: system_user_{{ name }}
diff --git a/tests/pillar/system.sls b/tests/pillar/system.sls
index 8aeb9d7..54176a1 100644
--- a/tests/pillar/system.sls
+++ b/tests/pillar/system.sls
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
         uid: 9991
         full_name: Salt User1
         home: /home/saltuser1
+        home_dir_mode: 755
       salt_user2:
         enabled: true
         name: saltuser2