diff --git a/includes/file.inc b/includes/file.inc
index 0d8f53ea23a4896dae380168b4ffb9a5bd97a4f9..fd1e09c78c1b22ebcabc51f98c98aeb88d12584d 100644
--- a/includes/file.inc
+++ b/includes/file.inc
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ function file_check_directory(&$directory, $mode = 0, $form_item = NULL) {
   }
 
   if ((file_directory_path() == $directory || file_directory_temp() == $directory) && !is_file("$directory/.htaccess")) {
-    $htaccess_lines = "SetHandler Drupal_Security_Do_Not_Remove_See_SA_2006_006\nOptions None\n<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>\n  RewriteEngine off\n</IfModule>";
+    $htaccess_lines = "SetHandler Drupal_Security_Do_Not_Remove_See_SA_2006_006\nOptions None\nOptions +FollowSymLinks\n<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>\n  RewriteEngine off\n</IfModule>";
     if (($fp = fopen("$directory/.htaccess", 'w')) && fputs($fp, $htaccess_lines)) {
       fclose($fp);
     }