diff --git a/lib/update-package.js b/lib/update-package.js
index 5e18f4b..ed49bda 100644
--- a/lib/update-package.js
+++ b/lib/update-package.js
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ module.exports = function (options, done) {
   Hoek.merge(packageContents, options.json || {});
 
   //
-  // The generated package.json is read-only, but removing it prior to writing
-  //    will allow updates.
+  // Change the file permissions so we can over-write the package. Then we'll write the package
+  // and then change the file permissions back to read-only.
   //
-  Fs.unlinkSync(packagePath);
+  Fs.chmodSync(packagePath, '0644') ;
   Fs.writeFile(packagePath, JSON.stringify(packageContents, null, 2), done);
 };
diff --git a/test/update-package.js b/test/update-package.js
index bd1f94e..474cfd0 100644
--- a/test/update-package.js
+++ b/test/update-package.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ describe('update-package', function () {
     before(function (done) {
       fsStub.existsSync = Sinon.stub().returns(true);
       fsStub.readFileSync = Sinon.stub().returns('{}');
-      fsStub.unlinkSync = Sinon.stub();
+      fsStub.chmodSync = Sinon.stub();
       fsStub.writeFile = Sinon.stub().yields(null);
       done();
     });
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ describe('update-package', function () {
     before(function (done) {
       fsStub.existsSync = Sinon.stub().returns(true);
       fsStub.readFileSync = Sinon.stub().returns('{}');
-      fsStub.unlinkSync = Sinon.stub();
+      fsStub.chmodSync = Sinon.stub();
       fsStub.writeFile = Sinon.stub().yields(null);
       done();
     });