diff --git a/dvc/path/data_item.py b/dvc/path/data_item.py
index de93fe5ff..6a40c0ff1 100644
--- a/dvc/path/data_item.py
+++ b/dvc/path/data_item.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import stat
 import shutil
 
 from dvc.path.path import Path
@@ -104,6 +105,6 @@ class DataItem(object):
         md5 = file_md5(self.data.relative)[0]
         self._cache_file = os.path.join(self.cache_dir, md5)
         self._git.modify_gitignore([self.data.relative])
-        if os.path.isfile(self.cache.relative):
-            return
-        System.hardlink(self.data.relative, self.cache.relative)
+        if not os.path.isfile(self.cache.relative):
+            System.hardlink(self.data.relative, self.cache.relative)
+        os.chmod(self.data.relative, stat.S_IREAD)